VTDigger announces triple-match opportunity for Giving Tuesday, plus webinar to focus on Vermont’s education reforms – VTDigger

Initiative to Advance Sustainable Development Goals through Public Engagement and Journalism

On December 2, 2025, a multi-faceted initiative will be launched to support and inform the public on matters critical to sustainable development in Vermont. The initiative combines a public forum on educational reform with a collaborative funding drive, directly engaging with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Fostering Quality Education (SDG 4) through Public Discourse

A key component of this initiative is a virtual event designed to enhance public understanding of significant changes to the state’s education system. By providing accessible information on Act 73, the state’s new education reform law, the event directly supports the aims of SDG 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Event Overview

• Topic: Analysis of Vermont’s Education Reform Law (Act 73) and its implementation.
• Presenter: Corey McDonald, Education Reporter.
• Objective: To unpack the reforms reshaping Vermont’s schools and address public inquiries, thereby fostering an informed dialogue crucial for achieving targets within SDG 4.

Logistical Details

• Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2025
• Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
• Platform: Free webinar via Zoom.

Public Participation and Information Access

To ensure broad and equitable access to information, in line with SDG 16.10, the following provisions have been made:

• A pre-submission process for questions will be utilized to structure the conversation.
• A full recording of the session will be made available on the VTDigger website and YouTube channel for asynchronous access.
• A repository of prior reporting on Act 73 is available for public review.

Strengthening Institutions and Public Access to Information (SDG 16 & SDG 17)

The initiative includes a fundraising campaign on “Giving Tuesday” to ensure the continued operation of an independent, nonprofit journalistic institution. This effort aligns with SDG 16, which emphasizes the need for strong, accountable institutions and public access to information, and SDG 17, which promotes partnerships to achieve the goals.

Collaborative Funding Model

The financial sustainability of this public information service is being addressed through a partnership model that exemplifies SDG 17:

1. Public donations are solicited for Tuesday, December 2.
2. A partnership with a group of donors has been established to triple the value of every gift received on that day.
3. The overarching goal is to secure the resources necessary for producing fiercely independent journalism that serves the public good.

Impact on Sustainable Development

Support for this initiative contributes directly to the framework of the SDGs. By sustaining independent media, the community reinforces the principles of SDG 16, ensuring transparency and accountability. An informed public is better equipped to engage with and advocate for progress across all development goals, including the advancement of Quality Education (SDG 4).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article is centered around “Vermont’s public education system” and a “sweeping new education reform law” known as Act 73. The entire purpose of the announced virtual conversation is to “unpack the reforms already reshaping Vermont’s schools.” This directly relates to the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article is published by VTDigger, a “nonprofit journalism” organization that produces “fiercely independent news.” By hosting a “free virtual conversation” and providing reporting on a new state law, the organization is actively working to ensure public access to information. This aligns with the goal of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 4.1: Ensure free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education

  The article discusses “Act 73, the state’s sweeping new education reform law,” which is described as the “biggest transition in years” for the public education system. Such a reform law is a primary mechanism for governments to improve the quality and equity of education, which is the core objective of this target.

• Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms

  VTDigger’s role as a nonprofit news source covering the rollout of Act 73 directly contributes to this target. The organization’s commitment to “serving Vermonters” by hosting a “free webinar via Zoom” and making a “recording of the conversation” available afterwards are concrete actions that ensure the public has access to information about significant legislative changes affecting the state.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for Target 4.1

  While the article does not provide statistical data, it implies a key policy-level indicator:

  • Existence and implementation of a major education reform law (Act 73): The article’s focus on this law serves as a qualitative indicator that the state is taking significant policy action to address the quality of its public education system. The discussion about the “rollout of Act 73” points to the implementation phase of this policy.

• Indicators for Target 16.10

  The article implicitly mentions several indicators related to public access to information:

  • Public events to disseminate information: The “free virtual conversation” is a direct measure of efforts to inform the public about governmental actions.
  • Availability of information through independent media: The article highlights the role of VTDigger’s reporting and provides a link to “Revisit Corey’s reporting on Act 73,” indicating the existence of accessible journalistic content on the topic.
  • Freely accessible recordings: The promise that a “recording of the conversation will be made available on the VTDigger website and on our VTDigger YouTube channel” is an indicator of ensuring long-term, free public access to information.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: vtdigger.org