Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Legislation working its way through the Statehouse would be a game changer for children and families as Vermont builds back better. H.106 creates âcommunity schools,â a new model to transform our schools into community centers by inviting into our schools the supports that children need to succeed. The pandemic has exacerbated and shined a light on a deeply entrenched problem with Vermontâs education system: children from low-income families do not do as well academically as their better off classmates. The challenges of learning from home this past year have been especially difficult for low-income families, and their children have fallen even farther behind. We are failing in our shared obligation to help all children get the quality education they need and deserve. Achieving the cherished American ideal of equal opportunities for all requires a greater commitment to overcoming the many barriers that low-income children often face. What we have been doing obviously has not been working. A big part of the reason is that many children are arriving in kindergarten seriously behind their peers in emotional and intellectual development and social skills. Throughout all grade levels more and more children suffer from physical and mental health problems. Low-income children are much more likely to drop out. A vast majority of our prison population do not have a high school diploma.