A decade after Act 46, it’s clear that district consolidation was not the answer. Education spending has skyrocketed while outcomes have declined. This report builds on a similar report the organization published in 2014 that showed larger school districts did not necessarily perform better. Today’s report shows that the trend has continued, however statistical analysis reveals some potential cost and performance improvements could be had through supervisory union consolidation and increasing class sizes.

The largest cost-driver we are seeing in Vermont’s education system is our smallest-in-the-country class sizes. We are so out of step with the rest of the country that not only is it heavily impacting cost, it’s also negatively impacting performance. The data shows that, in Vermont, outcomes actually improve as class sizes get bigger, particularly at higher grade levels. 

CFV is known for issuing data-driven reports, but this one may be the most impactful yet. We hope that the report helps legislators focus on data-informed policymaking in order to tackle the property tax crisis our state is facing.

On behalf of Vermonters,

Ben Kinsley
Interim Executive Director, Campaign for Vermont

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