Weekly Field Memo: Recent News and Items of Interest From the Agency

Contents:

Workshop - Academic Integrity in the Age of AI

Audience: Secondary School Teachers and Principals

Monday, March 9, 2026, 3:30-4:30 PM

Academic integrity is the number one concern school leaders raise about Artificial Intelligence (AI), and for good reason. There is no magic bullet, AI detection tools aren't reliable, and most students have easy access to AI outside of school systems. So what can you actually do? This workshop digs into practical strategies: shifting assessment toward process over product, building school-wide consistency around expectations, and rethinking what we ask students to do in the first place. We'll also explore why content knowledge is the real foundation here. When students lack that foundation, AI can become a crutch instead of a tool, and that's where both integrity and learning break down. Register for the event using our form.

Contact: Josh Blumberg at [email protected]

Graduation Requirement Student Engagement Sessions

Audience: Superintendents and Principals

The Agency of Education has partnered with UP For Learning, a Vermont-based educational non-profit, to host a series of youth focus groups to support students in providing feedback on proposed statewide graduation requirements.

Youth and adult staff from UP for Learning will lead focus groups in high schools and CTE centers across the state. Four focus groups will be held at high schools, two will be held at CTE centers, and one will be virtual. These sessions will last between 60 - 90 minutes and the in-person sessions will take place during the school day.

The Agency is engaging partners across Vermont to provide feedback on proposed statewide graduation requirements, and student input must be a central element in shaping this vision. This project seeks to ensure youth voice is meaningfully included in the conversation about how best to prepare students for life beyond K-12 education.

If you are interested in hosting a focus group in your school or district, please contact Patrick LaClair, UP for Learning Program Director, at [email protected] by March 13th. UP For Learning will follow up with superintendents, CTE directors, and principals to inquire about potential interest and begin scheduling these sessions.

As our host, we would ask that you support this event by:

• Providing a room large enough to accommodate ~20 participants.
• Recruiting students representing a variety of identities and experiences, who would be willing to participate in the dialogue. UP for Learning will share resources to support the recruitment of a representative group.
• Having 1-2 school staff from your schools be present during the event.

Contact: Lori Dolezal at [email protected]

2026 Licensing Renewal Season Open

Audience: All Administrators and Educators

Access to 2026 renewal applications is now open. Applications are currently being received and processed by the Licensing Team. Please fully review the account registration for VLSE if this is your first time accessing the new licensing system. Educators working in a public school are served by an L/RSB, and should direct all relicensing questions to their L/RSB. Educators are encouraged to submit to the AOE by April 1, 2026 to be relicensed by July 1, 2026. Educators with a pending application will still have a valid license after the June 30th expiration while the application is being processed. The AOE Licensing Team is working with the vendor to resolve any system glitches as they arise. We appreciate your patience during this new licensing system rollout!

Important - Educators are responsible for: entering employment details in their profile that are accurate and current, ensuring employment matches what is entered in the professional learning section, renewing all endorsement requirements in a timely manner, complying with L/RSB and AOE timelines, and reviewing any new license immediately upon receipt for accuracy.

Contact: Local Standards Boards for educators working in public schools, or [email protected] for educators not served by an L/RSB.

Lead in Water Remediation - Funds Available

Audience: School Principals, Facilities Managers, and Business Managers

Limited funding is currently available through the VT Department of Health to pay for lead remediation for school taps that have tested at or above the action level of 4 parts per billion (ppb). Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Follow the Reimbursement and Remediation Steps or visit the VT Health Department Lead Testing webpage for more information.

Contact: Roxanne Karimi, VT Department of Health at [email protected]

BTA Community Resources Webinar

Audience: Current and prospective school BTA team members

The Agency of Education will host an informational webinar about the recently published BTA Community Resources on Thursday, March 19, 2026. These resources are supplemental and can be found on the AOE BTA webpage. This webinar is for current and prospective school BTA team members and school administrators. Please register via the BTA Community Resources Webinar registration page attend.

Contact: Taylor Goodwin at [email protected]

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 of collaborative professional learning for multilingual learner educators and K-12 Science educators! Participants will learn actionable strategies to use in collaboration surrounding the development and implementation of co-planned Science lessons and units that integrate both the Next Generation Science Standards and WIDA standards. You will work in MLL/Science teacher pairs or teams, engaging in hands-on activities that model collaborative planning. The training will be on March 18th from 8:30 - 3:00 PM at the Center for Achievement in Public Service (CAPS) building in Montpelier, Vermont and includes lunch. Use our form to register, space is limited.

Contact: Kathryn Rossman at [email protected]

The VT Agency of Education is hiring

Audience: All Administrators, Educators and communities

The Vermont Agency of Education is hiring. To support our ongoing recruitment efforts and keep the field informed, all current open positions at the Agency will now be shared in the Weekly Field Memo (WFM). We encourage you to review, share, and distribute these opportunities throughout your schools, districts, and professional networks. View one current opening on the VT Careers website. Thank you for helping us spread the word and connect talented professionals with meaningful work in Vermont education!

The following positions have been posted: