Vermont Agency of Education Weekly Field Memo - March 4, 2026
Here's what you need this week: time-sensitive registrations, funding you can use now, and opportunities that move student learning forward. Skim for your role, take the next step, and share with your teams.
Workshop - Academic Integrity in the Age of AI
Audience: Secondary School Teachers and Principals
Date/Time: Monday, March 9, 2026, 3:30-4:30 PM
AI detection tools aren't reliable, and students can access AI outside your systems. The practical move is to rethink assessment: emphasize process over product, set consistent expectations school-wide, and redesign tasks so content knowledge and original thinking are required. When students have a strong knowledge base, AI becomes a support-not a shortcut.
Register using our form. Contact: Josh Blumberg at Josh.Blumberg@vermont.gov
For added support, explore the AI Learning Path for Secondary School Teachers or the AI Learning Path for School Principals to reinforce classroom practice and school-wide expectations.
Graduation Requirement Student Engagement Sessions
Audience: Superintendents and Principals
The Agency of Education and UP for Learning are hosting student focus groups to gather feedback on proposed statewide graduation requirements. Four high school sessions, two CTE sessions, and one virtual session will run for 60-90 minutes during the school day. Youth voice will play a central role in shaping what readiness for life after K-12 looks like.
Interested in hosting a session at your school or district? Email Patrick LaClair at Pat@upforlearning.org by March 13. UP for Learning will follow up with superintendents, CTE directors, and principals to confirm interest and schedule.
Hosts are asked to:
- Provide a room that seats ~20 participants.
- Recruit a diverse group of students willing to participate (UP for Learning will share recruitment resources).
- Have 1-2 school staff present during the event.
Contact: Lori Dolezal at Lori.Dolezal@vermont.gov
2026 Licensing Renewal Season Open
Audience: All Administrators and Educators
Access to 2026 renewal applications is open. If you're new to the VLSE licensing system, review your account registration before starting. Educators in public schools are served by an L/RSB; send relicensing questions to your L/RSB. To be relicensed by July 1, 2026, submit to AOE by April 1, 2026. If your application is pending past June 30, your license remains valid while it's processed.
The AOE Licensing Team is addressing system glitches with the vendor. Thank you for your patience during rollout.
Educators are responsible for:
- Entering accurate, current employment details in their profile.
- Ensuring employment entries match the professional learning section.
- Renewing all endorsement requirements on time.
- Following L/RSB and AOE timelines.
- Reviewing any new license immediately for accuracy.
Contact: Local Standards Boards (public school educators) or AOE.LicensingInfo@vermont.gov (educators not served by an L/RSB).
Lead in Water Remediation - Funds Available
Audience: School Principals, Facilities Managers, and Business Managers
Limited funding is available through the VT Department of Health to remediate school taps testing at or above 4 parts per billion (ppb). Funding is first-come, first-served. Follow the reimbursement and remediation steps or visit the VT Health Department's lead testing webpage for details.
If you need a quick reference for best practices, see the EPA 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools.
Contact: Roxanne Karimi, VT Department of Health at LeadSchool@vermont.gov
BTA Community Resources Webinar
Audience: Current and prospective school BTA team members
Join an informational webinar on Thursday, March 19, 2026, covering the newly published BTA Community Resources available on the AOE BTA webpage. This session is for current and prospective BTA team members and school administrators.
Please register via the BTA Community Resources Webinar registration page. Contact: Taylor Goodwin at Taylor.Goodwin@vermont.gov
K-12 MLL and Science Educators Collaborative Professional Learning
Audience: K-12 Multilingual Learners (MLL) and Science Educators
Registration is open for the second cohort focused on co-planned science lessons that integrate the Next Generation Science Standards and WIDA standards. Attend in MLL/Science pairs or teams for hands-on planning and ready-to-use strategies.
Date/Time/Location: March 18, 8:30 AM-3:00 PM, CAPS building, Montpelier (lunch included). Use our form to register; space is limited. Contact: Kathryn Rossman at Kathryn.Rossman@vermont.gov
The VT Agency of Education is hiring
Audience: All Administrators, Educators and communities
AOE is hiring, and open positions will be listed in the Weekly Field Memo to support recruiting across the state. Share with your networks and encourage qualified candidates to apply. You can view one current opening on the VT Careers website.
Now posted: Education Programs Coordinator II - Early Childhood Inclusion
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