Senate Panel Urged To Expand School Choice

A committee of the Vermont Senate has been hearing from parents and educators who want to expand the limited school choice now available in the state.

Vermont currently has limited school choice among public schools where neighboring districts agree to allow it. Parents and educators testifying Thursday before the Senate Education Committee urged broadening that standard.

Rutland County Republican and chairman of the panel Sen. Kevin Mullin, is backing a bill that would expand school choice to all public schools down through the elementary grades.

Gov. Peter Shumlin wants high school choice expanded statewide.

Parents of younger children told stories to the committee about how their grade-school kids had trouble in one school but flourished after switching to another.