U.S. Department of Education

VT, NH and Maine Rank High for Graduation Rates

Pat Bradley — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:15:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of Education says northern New England states have some of the best high school graduation rates in the country.

The department on Wednesday released rankings that for the first time compare states using the same data.

Vermont had the third-best graduation rate, at 87 percent, while New Hampshire ranked seventh with an 86 percent rate. Maine came in 10th, at 84 percent.

Iowa had the highest graduation rate, 88 percent, while the District of Columbia had the lowest rate, 59 percent.

Report Finds Vermont School District Violated Civil Rights

Pat Bradley — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 23:30:00 +0000

Federal investigators say a Vermont school district violated civil rights laws while responding to an incident in which a teacher's aide threatened an African-American sixth-grader and then used a racial epithet.

After a two-year-investigation, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights has reached a settlement with the Springfield School District. The Valley News reports the district is required to pay nearly $3,000 in counseling services for the student and increase regulations in training for employees.