VREC’s Commitment to Community Schools

The commitment to Community Schools is in the origins of the Vermont Rural Education Collaborative. Our predecessor organization, the Vermont Rural Partnership, was established to support school communities in Northern Vermont and to specifically promote place-based learning.  

VREC was an active partner in the Vermont Community Schools Coalition that collaborated to craft and promote proposed legislation that would become The Vermont Community Schools Act (Act 67), signed into law in June of 2021.

Core Implementation

• The Five Pillars: The act enshrines Vermont's commitment to the nationally recognized Community Schools Pillars.

  • Integrated student supports

  • Expanded and enriched learning opportunities 

  • Active family and community engagement 

  • Collaborative leadership and practice, 

  • Safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments

• Pilot Sites: Several school districts were selected as initial pilot sites to implement these models, including the North Country Supervisory Union.

• Collaborative Partnership: The passage of the act led to the creation of the Catamount Community Schools Collaborative(CCSC), a partnership between the University of Vermont and Vermont Agency of Education to evaluate and support the program. 

Three supervisory unions within VREC were among the five SU/SDs in Vermont awarded grants in the first cohort in 2021. In 2024, the Vermont Legislature approved an additional year of state funding for these programs through Act 168. Three additional VREC SU/SDs received funding in 2025, the second cohort. 

VREC Continues to Support Community Schools by:

• …continued commitment to place-based learning via professional development and student-led mini grants.  

• …conducting regional training on community engagement

• …providing Inclusive Schools mini grants 

• …promoting collaborative leadership practices via professional development and hosting convenings.

Expert Implementation Guidance

VREC has contracted with Jess DeCarolis, former division leader at the Vermont Agency of Education, who led the initial implementation of the Community Schools grant program, to assist VREC SU/SDs in putting forward grant applications in the second round of funding.

VREC serves six of the 11 Vermont supervisory unions and districts awarded community schools grants. Through this program, they participate in the Catamount Community Schools Collaborative (CCSC)—a joint partnership with the University of Vermont and the Vermont Agency of Education.

Through her Ph.D. fellowship with the CCSC, Jessica coordinates regular community of practice meetings for participating member schools and partners with VREC and the Coalition to advocate for sustained state funding.

Jessica is actively engaged in partnering with VREC and the VT Community Schools Coalition in advocacy for continued state funding and support.

ering with VREC and the VT Community Schools Coalition in advocacy for continued state funding and support.

Jess DeCarolis

Advocacy

VREC advocates for greater educational equity and expanded learning opportunities for our rural school communities.  We actively tell the story of rural Vermont's unique challenges and assets—celebrating the achievements of our youth and educators.  We strive to share an inspiring narrative and promote an aspirational vision for our region and potential of our children. 

• We recognize the achievements of students, educators and community members 

• We advance a holistic design for learning that is interdisciplinary uses place-based & project-based practices

• We communicate research and writing that support rural schools and public education

• We are vested in supporting thriving rural communities where Community Schools are at the center

• We advocate for equity in education funding that supports rural schools that often serve a student population that are experiencing the challenges of

poverty (housing insecurity, food insecurity, etc…) 

VREC annually hosts a legislative breakfast in December and engages in ongoing communication with members of the legislature during the session.  We also regularly connect with member organizations and seek opportunities for grass roots organizing.  Over the past two years, we have worked closely with the Rural School Community Alliance to amplify our collective voice to advocate for public policy that retains local democratic decision making and funding that supports small schools.  VREC participated in the Celebration of Rural Schools at the Statehouse in January.  VREC Executive Director, John Castle, testified this past year in support of community schools and state-wide investment in teacher workforce development.  John was a strong voice for rural schools through his participation on the Commission on the Future of Public Education.