POSITION STATEMENT
independent school accountability
VISA opposes any state action to impose public school educational quality standards upon independent schools.
Vermont’s independent schools have a long and successful record of accountability directly to parents for student performance. Many independent schools are ahead of the public schools on meeting standards recently placed on the public schools for Personal Learning Plans, dual enrollment and continuous improvement.
Vermont independent schools follow standards for education quality, student support and best administrative practices as set by their accrediting organizations. That independent schools may do things differently should not obscure understanding that they meet or exceed the results sought by the public school standards.
Approved independent schools in Vermont customarily gain their state approval by gaining accreditation from the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), one of six regional accrediting organizations in the U.S. (www.neasc.org). NEASC accreditation is a rigorous process aimed at lifting school standards and performance to the highest levels.
Every student attending a Vermont independent school does so voluntarily. In contrast, most students attending public schools live in a district that does not permit attendance at any school except one operated by the district. Voluntary attendance gives parents substantially greater power in their relationship with a child’s school. The likelihood of inequities increases when power relationships are imbalanced.
Vermont’s independent schools have a long and successful record of accountability directly to parents for student performance. Many independent schools are ahead of the public schools on meeting standards recently placed on the public schools for Personal Learning Plans, dual enrollment and continuous improvement.
Vermont independent schools follow standards for education quality, student support and best administrative practices as set by their accrediting organizations. That independent schools may do things differently should not obscure understanding that they meet or exceed the results sought by the public school standards.
Approved independent schools in Vermont customarily gain their state approval by gaining accreditation from the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), one of six regional accrediting organizations in the U.S. (www.neasc.org). NEASC accreditation is a rigorous process aimed at lifting school standards and performance to the highest levels.
Every student attending a Vermont independent school does so voluntarily. In contrast, most students attending public schools live in a district that does not permit attendance at any school except one operated by the district. Voluntary attendance gives parents substantially greater power in their relationship with a child’s school. The likelihood of inequities increases when power relationships are imbalanced.