Since January 2007, three business and three education organizations have been working together as the Business-Education Alliance toward simple goals; to develop mutual understanding and respect for each other's issues and priorities; to inform each other's thinking with factual information and industry insight; and, to find common ground that could lay the foundation for policy recommendations around a straight forward question: How can Vermont control the rate of increase in preK-12 public education spending while, at the same time, improve education outcomes for all Vermont students?

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Business-Education Alliance Report Released (April 21, 2008)

Our children will live their lives in a century full of opportunities and challenges. Vermont’s future and our country’s are dependent upon a successful and responsive educational system that delivers a quality 21st century education to every Vermont child. It is the belief of the Business-Education Alliance that the educational system must be designed to ensure all children “graduate.” What it means to “graduate” must be based on each child’s demonstration of the knowledge, skills and attributes, which have been identified as essential for their continued growth as citizens.

Business-Education Alliance Report (April 21, 2008)

Business-Education Alliance in Support of Education Restructuring (April 15, 2008)

Our members include the Roundtable, LCRCC and GBIC; and the VPA; VSBA; and VSA. We have been led by two co-chairs, Mary Moran, Superintendent, Rutland City Schools, (here today) and Mary Powell, Chief Operating Officer, Green Mountain Power. And to facilitate our work and manage us to a productive end, we engaged a consultant, Val Gardner, former principal of Champlain Valley Union High School.

Since January 2007 we have been working together to examine both cost and governance issues. Next week we will be issuing our final report but, today, we are here as representatives of the Business-Education Alliance to address the governance provisions of S.371 and share our recommendations.

Business-Education Alliance Ventriss testimony (April 15, 2008)

Roundtable Calls for Increased Public Investment in Higher Education

South Burlington, VT April 7, 2008 - In January 2004 the Vermont Business Roundtable issued its first report on the vital importance of higher education as a driver of Vermont’s 21st century economy. Since that time, the need for support of this important economic sector has only become more pronounced. The Roundtable is again calling attention to the fact that, since its report was issued in 2004, Vermont has made no progress, but is in fact falling further behind in its support.

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Roundtable Releases Recommendations for Avoiding State Workforce Crisis

The Vermont Business Roundtable's Education and Training Working Group is pleased to present, "Having the Courage to Change: Avoiding the Coming Workforce Crisis," a new report looking at effects of, and answers to, a skilled worker shortage threatening the state.