Gov. Shumlin and Others Tout Early Progress of Act 46

Statement

Six months after signing the historic education reform law known as Act 46, Gov. Peter Shumlin today highlighted its early success in sparking local conversations statewide about how to enhance educational quality for Vermont's kids. The Governor made the announcement at Essex High School a week after voters from the towns of Essex, Essex Junction, and Westford voted to streamline their governance structure, forming one unified district to serve 10 schools in the three communities. The unification was the first under Act 46 and reduces the number of schoolboards from five to one and superintendents from two to one.

"The message here is simple: Act 46 is working," Gov. Peter Shumlin said. "Communities around Vermont are having important conversations about how to improve educational quality for their kids because of this law, not despite it. Given the 20 percent decline in school enrollment over the last 20 years, it is clear we need to adapt to preserve the high-quality education we value. Vermont communities are answering that call with local decisions, not prescriptions from Montpelier."

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