Vermont 2025 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vermont House Bill HCR069 Enrolled / Bill

Filed 03/28/2025

                    StateofVermont
HouseofRepresentatives
Montpelier,Vermont
ConcurrentHouseResolution
H.C.R.69
OfferedbyRepresentativesMarcotteofCoventry,BoschofClarendon,Carris-DuncanofWhitingham,
CooperofPownal,MicklusofMilton,OlsonofStarksboro,PriestleyofBradford,andWhiteofBethel
HouseconcurrentresolutiondesignatingApril2,2025asEarlyCollegeDayattheStateHouse
Whereas,thepercentageofVermonthighschoolstudentspursuingpostsecondaryeducationhasdeclined
significantlyinrecentyears,and
Whereas,animportantantidotetothistrendistheEarlyCollegeProgram(ECP)thatenableshighschool
studentssimultaneouslytocompletetheirsenioryearandfreshmanyearofcollege, and
Whereas,theenactmentof2013ActsandResolvesNo.77,“Anact…encouragingflexiblepathwaysto
secondaryschoolcompletion,”updatedVermont’slonghistoryofofferingalternativemethodstoachievehigh
schoolgraduation,andthisactwasdesignedtoimprovepostsecondaryreadinessandenrollment, and
Whereas,theECPestablishedinAct77representsapproximately0.4percentoftheexpendituresfromthe
EducationFund,anditisintendedtoencouragepostsecondaryeducationenrollmentamongstudentswhomight
nototherwiseconsiderthisoption, and
Whereas,demonstrablegainshaveoccurredduringthepastthreeyearsintheequitableadmissionofstudents
intotheECPattheCommunityCollegeofVermont,includinga250percentincreaseintheenrollmentof
studentswithlowincome, and
Whereas,Vermontassociatedegreegraduatesareamongthemostlikelyinthecountrytorealizeapositive
returnontheirinvestment,afigurethatstandsat79percentaccordingtotheStradaEducationFoundation, and
Whereas,theECPhasamajorinfluenceindirectingthepersonalpostsecondaryeducationandcareer
aspirationsoftheState’sstudents,anditprospectivelystrengthensthefutureVermontworkforce, and
Whereas,today,April2,2025,ECPenrolleeswhoarestudyingattheCommunityCollegeofVermontare
visitingtheStateHouse,nowtherefore be it
ResolvedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentatives:
ThattheGeneralAssemblydesignatesApril2,2025asEarlyCollegeDayattheStateHouse,andbeit
further
Resolved:ThattheSecretaryofStatebedirectedtosendacopyofthisresolutiontothepresidentofthe
CommunityCollegeofVermontandtheSecretaryofEducation.