Remember last year, when Vermont passed a law (Act 166) to provide 10 hours of publicly funded high-quality prekindergarten for any 3, 4 or 5 year old whose parent/guardian enrolls them in a prequalified program? yes/no …. well, don’t let your eyes glaze over quite yet, we have some important news for you! On January 25, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. at Mary Hogan Elementary there will be a PUBLIC HEARING, aka a meeting, that you are invited to. State agencies would like to hear from parents and caregivers (and any interested parties) regarding “Prekindergarten Regions.” What are exactly are those? We’re glad you asked! Here is our best explanation -warning, we may use some legal jargon.
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Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year ….
families may to enroll their child in a prequalified preschool program and the district must pay tuition for 10 hours each week. {In other words, you can send your kid to any prequalified preschool and your local school district must pay the tuition for 10 hours of preschool where ever you choose to send your child}
AND….
school districts may seek approval to limit the geographic area within which it will pay tuition for prekindergarten education by establishing a “Prekindergarten Region.” In our region, the proposed boundary is within the Addison Central Supervisory Union including towns of Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham and Weybridge. {In other words, if this proposal passes, then to access tuition assistance from your local school district, you must send your child to a prequalified prekindergarten within the physical boundaries of our supervisory union i.e. one of the 7 towns listed above}
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We encourage you to attend this hearing on January 25 at 5:00 pm to learn more. Can’t make the meeting but have an opinion? Great! To provide written public comment, please submit by 1/26/2016 to: Melissa Riegel-Garrett, Vermont Agency of Education 219 North Main Street, Suite 402 Barre, VT 05641 or email Melissa.RiegelGarrett@vermont.gov
want to learn more? click through to read the press release.
Here’s the official press release:
The Vermont Agencies of Education and Human Services will be hosting a public hearing at the Mary Hogan School to collect public input on the 7 prekindergarten regions proposed by the 7 schools in the Addison Central Supervisory Union.
WHAT: Public Hearing on 7 Prekindergarten Regions proposed by the 7 schools in the Addison Central SU
WHERE: Mary Hogan School, Middlebury, VT
WHEN: January 25, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
The approval of the following proposed regions would limit to these towns the geographic area within which each School District will pay tuition for prekindergarten education:
The Bridport Central School District has proposed a prekindergarten region with the boundary of the Addison Central SU that includes the towns of Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham and Weybridge.
The Cornwall Elementary School District has proposed a prekindergarten region with the boundary of the Addison Central SU that includes the towns of Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham and Weybridge.
The Mary Hogan Elementary School District has proposed a prekindergarten region with the boundary of the Addison Central SU that includes the towns of Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham and Weybridge.
The Ripton Elementary School District has proposed a prekindergarten region with the boundary of the Addison Central SU that includes the towns of Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham and Weybridge.
The Salisbury Elementary School District has proposed a prekindergarten region with the boundary of the Addison Central SU that includes the towns of Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham and Weybridge.
The Shoreham Elementary School District has proposed a prekindergarten region with the boundary of the Addison Central SU that includes the towns of Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham and Weybridge.
The Weybridge Elementary School District has proposed a prekindergarten region with the boundary of the Addison Central SU that includes the towns of Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham and Weybridge.