The Vermont Board of Education is hoping the Legislature will enact laws to help get bad teachers out of the classroom. Three bills are being drafted by the Vermont Education Department at the request of the state board.
One would give state Education Department employees who investigate educator license sanctions new power to subpoena witnesses. Another proposal would discourage administrators from giving good references to bad employees out of fear of lawsuits. The third proposal would make it illegal for an educator and student to engage in sexual relations even if the student is willing and has reached the legal age of consent in Vermont, which is 16.
The Legislature reconvenes on January 6.