Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                         H.763
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                                       H.763
 Introduced by Representative Austin of Colchester
 Referred to Committee on
 Date:
 Subject: Education; youth participatory action research; equity; students
 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create the
 Youth Participatory Action Research Project, which will use a contracted
 facilitator to select a diverse team of students from across the State to design a
 week-long experience through the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont for
 students in grades eight through 10, built around learning, interacting, and
 sharing about the issues facing students and educators in Vermont’s education
 system. Students participating in the week-long experience would create a
 blueprint for change, using the youth participatory action research cycle, which
 they would then share with students around the State.
    An act relating to the creation of the Youth Participatory Action Research
    Project
 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
 Sec. 1. YOUTH PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT
    (a) Creation. There is created the Youth Participatory Action Research
 Project to create a shared vision for amplification and empowerment of
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     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                         H.763
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 Vermont student voices through the development of a youth participatory
 research project aimed at the goal of creating schools that center belonging,
 equity, inclusivity, and safety of all students and educators. The Agency of
 Education shall contract with one or more nonprofit organizations to facilitate
 the Project. Eligible organizations shall agree to carry out the Project as
 described in this section.
    (b) Project goals and timeline.
       (1) Spring through fall of 2024. The Agency-contracted facilitator shall
 work with the Agency, school districts, approved independent schools, and
 interested stakeholders to select a diverse team of students in grades eight
 through 10 that is representative of all regions of Vermont. The facilitator
 shall train the team of selected students to facilitate and design dialogue
 sessions with students throughout the State to understand the issues that are
 currently impacting students’ educational experiences.
       (2) Fall 2024. The facilitator and student team shall analyze the data
 collected pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and use the results to
 design a week-long, in-depth experience through the Governor’s Institutes of
 Vermont for students in grades eight through 10, built around learning,
 interacting, and sharing about the issues facing students and educators in
 Vermont’s education system, which shall take place during the summer of
 2025. The facilitator and student team shall design the week-long experience VT LEG #373348 v.1
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                         H.763
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 as well as determine how to work with schools to recruit a representative group
 of student participants to ensure broad representation from across all of
 Vermont.
       (3) Summer 2025. Students recruited and selected pursuant to
 subdivision (2) of this subsection shall participate in the week-long experience
 through the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, designed pursuant to
 subdivision (2) of this subsection. The students shall explore the critical issues
 facing the education system and develop a blueprint for change that will lead to
 possible solutions to some of the problems facing the system. Students shall
 engage in the youth participatory action research cycle, using data to inform
 their recommendations and action plan.
       (4) Fall 2025. Students who participated in the Governor’s Institutes of
 Vermont session, held pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection, shall
 conduct listening sessions throughout the State to share their blueprint for
 change. The blueprint shall guide next action steps to be taken, with the goal
 of creating long-term student-adult partnerships on issues and problems facing
 Vermont’s education system.
       (5) Post-blueprint project. The facilitator shall work with school
 districts and approved independent schools to gather data on the impact of the
 blueprint project conducted under this subsection. Specifically, the facilitator VT LEG #373348 v.1
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                          H.763
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 shall gather data on the impact of the blueprint on the beliefs, skills, and
 experiences of students as agents of change in their schools and communities.
    (c) Report. On or before December 1, 2025, the Agency of Education, in
 consultation with the contracted facilitator, shall issue a report to the House
 and Senate Committees on Education with information on the work and
 outcomes of the Youth Participatory Action Research Project created under
 this section.
 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION
    The sum of $100,000.00 is appropriated from the General Fund to the
 Agency of Education in fiscal year 2025 to support the implementation of the
 Youth Participatory Action Research Project created under Sec. 1 of this act.
 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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