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Bill

S 175

An act relating to climate change education

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Anne Watson

The bill requires integrating climate change concepts into K-12 and higher education curricula, with standards, teacher training, and assessments to raise climate literacy.

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Education
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Bill Summary · S 175

Summary of Bill S. 175 (Session 2025-2026) – Vermont

Title

An act relating to climate change education

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to enhance climate change education within Vermont’s K-12 and higher education landscapes.
  • Its central objective is to increase public understanding of climate science, climate impacts, and pathways for mitigation and adaptation.
  • The measure reflects a policy priority to integrate climate-related content into curricula and professional development for educators.

Key provisions and changes

  • Curriculum integration

    • Requires the incorporation of climate change concepts into appropriate grade-level standards and curricula across subject areas (e.g., science, social studies, health, and technology).
    • Emphasizes accuracy, up-to-date science, and age-appropriate framing to support student comprehension of causes, effects, and solutions.

  • Standards and learning objectives

    • Establishes or references state learning standards related to climate change literacy (e.g., scientific consensus, measurement of climate indicators, and risk communication).
    • Promotes critical thinking about climate data, sources of information, and evidence-based decision making.

  • Professional development for educators

    • Mandates or encourages ongoing professional development focused on climate science, pedagogy for climate education, and effective classroom practices.
    • May include supports such as teacher training, workshops, and access to vetted instructional resources.

  • Student engagement and inclusion

    • Encourages inclusive, culturally responsive pedagogy and equitable access to climate education for all students.
    • May include opportunities for student-led projects, community partnerships, and service-learning related to climate action.

  • Assessment and accountability

    • Outlines a framework for assessing student learning in climate education, potentially through existing state assessments or new climate-related metrics.
    • Addresses reporting requirements for districts or schools to track progress on climate education implementation.

  • Resource provision

    • Possible creation or allocation of state resources, grants, or guidance to support schools in implementing climate change education.
    • May include partnerships with state agencies, higher education institutions, or non-profit organizations for curriculum development and materials.

Who is affected

  • Students: Expanded exposure to climate science and related critical thinking about environmental impacts and solutions.
  • Educators and schools: Teachers receive professional development; districts implement updated curricula and assessments.
  • School districts and state agencies: Responsible for adopting standards, providing resources, and reporting progress.
  • Community partners: Potentially engaged through partnerships for projects and service-learning initiatives.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introductions and referrals
    • The bill was read a first time and referred to the Committee on Education on January 6, 2026.
  • Sponsor information
    • Primary sponsor is listed with a co-sponsor: Anne Watson.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Educational impact: Aims to raise climate literacy, enabling students to understand scientific evidence, policy considerations, and practical actions to reduce carbon footprints and adapt to changing conditions.
  • Policy alignment: Aligns Vermont with broader education goals that prioritize environmental literacy and STEM integration.
  • Implementation considerations: Success depends on clear standards, quality instructional materials, teacher capacity, and funding or resources to support professional development and curriculum updates.

Note: Specific statutory language, funding amounts, timeline milestones, and exact standards are not provided in the summary available here. For a complete understanding, refer to the bill’s text and any accompanying fiscal notes or committee reports.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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