Vermont's Special Education System Deemed 'Needs Intervention' by U.S. Education Department

The U.S. Education Department has concluded that Vermont 'needs intervention' to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a worse rating than the state received in recent years. Vermont is one of four states to receive this rating, and it risks losing millions in federal funding if it does not improve its compliance. The assessment was based on 2023-24 school year data for reading and math proficiency, as well as graduation and dropout rates among students with disabilities. State officials have acknowledged the issues and initiated comprehensive improvement efforts.