Frequently Asked Questions About Act 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the EDJ Coalition?
What is Act 1 and what does the law do?
What is the Ethnic and Social Equity Standards Working Group?
Is this a mandate for schools?
So what are "standards?"
What about hazing, harassment, and bullying in Vermont schools?
What are the qualifications to apply?
What is the commitment to participate in the working group?
Do I have to be an educator or have special degrees to apply?
I need special accommodations. Will those be provided?
How can I apply?
Who is the Education Justice Coalition of Vermont (EDJ)?
The EDJ coalition, formerly known as The Vermont Coalition on Ethnic and Social Equity in Schools or VCESES is a statewide coalition led by a multicultural and multigenerational group including people of color from various racial, ethnic and indigenous groups; women; and anti-poverty, disability rights, and LGBTQIA advocates. Founded in 2017, the coalition includes elders, students, parents, educators and organizations from throughout Vermont. VCESES was the driving force behind the passage of Act 1, the Ethnic and Social Equity Standards bill.
Together, we are working with communities across the state to create plans to support youth, families, educators, and schools to ensure the representation of diverse histories and accomplishments and a school climate that supports the needs of all students.
What is Act 1 and what does the law do?
The Ethnic and Social Equity Standards Advisory Working Group was created by Act 1 of 2019. The law creates a 23-person group called the Ethnic and Social Equity Standards Advisory Working Group to review standards for student performance adopted by the State Board of Education and recommend to the State Board updates and additional standards to recognize fully the history, contributions and perspectives of ethnic groups and social groups.
These recommended additional standards shall be designed to:
Increase cultural competency of students in prekindergarten through grade 12;
Increase attention to the history, contributions, and perspectives of ethnic groups and social groups;
Promote critical thinking regarding the history, contributions, and perspectives of ethnic groups and social groups;
Commit the school to eradicating any racial bias in its curriculum;
Provide, across its curriculum, content and methods that enable students to explore safely questions of identity, race equality and racism; and
Ensure that the basic curriculum and extracurricular programs are welcoming to all students and take into account parental concerns about religion or culture.
The Working Group may also review State statutes, State Board rules, and school district and supervisory union policies that concern or impact standards for student performance or curriculum used in schools.
The goal is to help schools support the needs of youth who are underrepresented like:
women and girls
youth with disabilities
immigrants
refugees
LGBTQIA
Abenaki
people from other indigenous groups
people of African, Asian, Pacific Island, Chicanx, Latinx, or Middle Eastern descent
groups that have been historically subject to persecution or genocide
About the Ethnic and Social Equity Standards Advisory Working Group
Act 1 created the Ethnic and Social Equity Standards Advisory Working Group to support this work. In total, the working group will include 23 people from throughout the state. The EDJ coalition supports the effort to recruit and select 13 individuals; 7 adults, four high school students, and one Vermont-based, college-level faculty expert in ethnic studies for the working group from throughout the state.
The working group will meet on an agreed schedule to help complete the work over the next three years
Mileage reimbursement and stipends for participation provided
The EDJ coalition has committed that the community-based members will represent the interests of various ethnic and social groups and have experience in ethnic standards or studies, social justice, inclusivity, or advocacy for the groups they represent
Training and ongoing support are provided at no cost throughout the appointment.
Is this a mandate for schools?
It does not force or “mandate” that any school uses a specific curriculum or lesson plans. Those choices are still made in your local community and not by the state.
So what are “standards?”
Standards are what help schools determine what they will teach. Standards set expectations for what students need to know in different subjects like mathematics, social studies, sciences, language arts, and more. Schools decide on the books, activities, and other learning tools they will use based on the requirements laid out in the state standards.
This new law and the results of the working group are important tools – but they are not enough. We need parents, youth, and community members to dive in and support their schools in preparing for these needed changes through education and involvement. This work does not need a law to happen, but it does need you to make sure it is successful.
What about hazing, harassment, and bullying in Vermont schools?
In 2012, the Agency of Education established a Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council to address "incidents of harassment, hazing, and bullying prevention strategies and resources; and to coordinate statewide activities related to the prevention of and response to harassment, hazing, and bullying. The council reports annually in January to the state board and the house and senate committees on education." To prevent harassment, hazing, and bullying, it is important to address the root causes which include creating more inclusive, non-discriminatory school environments. The recommendations from the working group may include suggested training for teachers, administrators, and staff, and revisions of current practices in reporting and addressing incidents of hazing, harassment, and bullying against students from different ethnic and social groups. Many of the members of the Harassment, Hazing and Bullying Prevention Council will also serve on the working group created by Act 1.
What are the qualifications to apply?
As a group, including those appointed by VCESES should represent broad, geographic spread across Vermont
Experience in ethnic standards or studies, social justice, inclusivity, and advocacy for the groups they represent is crucial
You do not have to be an expert in school policy or curriculum to apply or serve on the working group
What is the commitment to participate in the working group?
This is a 2-year position from Fall 2021 -Summer 2023. Meetings may range in frequency and length from once monthly and for any length of time, from one to four hours. Meeting locations will be determined by the group and are currently virtually. You can find the current meeting times by following this link Ethnic and Social Equity Standards Advisory Working Group | Agency of Education (vermont.gov)
Do I have to be an educator or have special degrees to apply?
No, you do not. All you need is a passion for Vermont education. Training will be provided for those interested at no cost to the participants.
I need special accommodations. Will those be provided?
Yes! By law, the state of Vermont will provide any technology, translation or interpretation needs for participants by request.
How do I apply?
Anyone can apply in either of these following ways (please choose one):
Fill out this online form
Send a letter of intent to answer these questions and send them to vtethnicstudies@gmail.com (limit 2-pages, double spaced)
Record your answers to these questions: 802-461-6322
Submit a video response to these questions to vtethnicstudies@gmail.com
Applicants will need to answer the following questions in their responses:
Please introduce yourself. Who are you and how do you identify? (Please share anything you would like for us to know about your race, class, ability, gender, sexuality, religion, geography and anything else that feels relevant.)
How did you learn about this opportunity? Why is this important to you?
If selected, what accommodations do you need to participate on this group?
“Until we are all free, none of us are free.” What does this quote mean to you?
All are encouraged to apply, the only prerequisite a passion for Vermont education.
Who are the other appointees to the working group?
Other members of the working group who were selected by their organizations include:
the Secretary of Education or designee;
the Executive Director of the Vermont-National Education Association or designee;
the Executive Director of Racial Equity or designee;
the Executive Director of the Vermont School Boards Association or designee;
a representative for the Vermont Principals’ Association with expertise in the development of school curriculum;
a representative for the Vermont Curriculum Leaders Association;
the Executive Director of the Vermont Superintendents Association or designee;
the Executive Director of the Vermont Independent Schools Association or designee; and
the Executive Director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission or designee
