The need for school choice guardrails
Recently, Deborah Singiser, director of the Barstow Unified School District, addressed the Vermont Senate Education Committee and advocated for establishing guardrails around school choice. The Barstow Unified School District, which includes the towns of Mendon and Chittenden, offers school choice after eighth grade. Over the past five years, a concerning pattern has emerged: the district has been paying tuition for many students who never graduated from Barstow’s eighth grade. For example, at Killington Mountain School, 13 students were tuitioned in one year, yet only three had attended Barstow previously.
This situation means that local taxpayers are funding education for students who often have minimal ties to the community — or even to Vermont itself. With the average tuition rate for 2025 set at $20,910, families whose children did not attend eighth grade at Barstow required Chittenden and Mendon taxpayers to allocate over $200,000 in their school budget for tuition payments to KMS.
The system is being manipulated: families from outside Vermont can rent condos near a ski academy in towns with school choice, and subsequently secure tuition payments of $20,910 from the town. This practice highlights the need for stronger financial controls to prevent exploitation and safeguard community resources.
Beyond financial oversight, Vermont must establish a unified education system with consistent standards. Currently, public schools must comply with Education Quality Standards, while private and independent schools are governed by the 2200 rule series, which demands less in terms of teacher licensing, financial transparency, and curriculum alignment. This disparity results in inconsistent accountability for taxpayer funds, unequal educational experiences, and a lack of comprehensive data to evaluate student outcomes statewide.
Bill H.813 has been introduced by the Vermont legislature. The goal of H.813 is to create a public education system that is fair, transparent, and fiscally responsible. This bill would result in Vermont adopting a single set of rules and standards for all schools — both public and private/independent — that receive public tuition dollars. Same dollars, same rules. By doing so, the state can ensure equity and accountability for all students and taxpayers.
Please support H.813. Same dollars, same rules.