Legislative counsel reviewed the House Education Committee bill changes (Draft 1.1) on Tuesday that deals with reporting for the Vermont State Colleges (VSC). It is very similar to the house passed version of H.456 in 2022.

In the goals section of the bill stated that the VSC shall establish its priorities, budget, and allocate its resources to develop its capabilities to ensure that students successfully achieve their academic goals in a manner and in an environment that is:

1. Affordable
2. Accessible
3. Equitable
4. Relevant to Vermont's needs

Under the new VSC reporting requirements, the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) is required to submit a joint report on the average and median amount of unmet need for full time students enrolled with VSC. The legislature also wants numbers on the the average, median, annual, and cumulative student and parent debt by loan type for students obtaining a two year or four year degree.

The Committee is also contemplating a requirement that all high school students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as a condition of graduation. 

Chairman Conlon noted that this would likely be the first bill voted out of the Committee so he asked members to review the current draft and they will have further discussion on the final one.