Dear Superintendents,

School visits are a highlight of being the State Superintendent. This week we made a special visit to a 6th grade classroom and celebrated the winner of the contest to name the new statewide assessment. The assessment is newly minted as the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress, or WY-TOPP:

Media Release on School Visit for WY-TOPP

News Story on KGWN

Of course students liked hearing that the test will be shorter, in color, and online. In the coming weeks, as the contract with American Institute for Research (AIR) is finalized, we will release details about WY-TOPP. Dates we know now:

Load Test: Sept. 5, 2017

Fall Standards Based Interim (SBI-optional): Oct. 23, 2017 – Nov. 17, 2017

Winter Standards Based Interim (SBI-optional): Jan. 16, 2018 – Feb. 9, 2018

Modular Interims (SBM-optional): Available All Year

Standards Based Summative (SBS): April 16, 2018 – May 11, 2018 

State Superintendent Jillian Balow and Aiden Weinzierl smile and point at a poster that says, "Congrats Aiden!!! You made it to the TOPP!!" and has a stick figure of Aiden sitting on top of the world.

Aiden and his class enjoyed a WY-TOPP celebration

Education and Economic Diversity in Wyoming 

Several weeks ago, I shared a letter regarding my concerns about not having education well-represented on the executive committee of a new statewide initiative called Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming, or ENDOW. I’m resharing the letter and the response from Governor Mead:

This week the steering committee for the Wyoming Business Alliance met in Casper–I serve as an honorary member on this committee. Education was the main focus of the meeting: funding, Wyoming Excels, and student outcomes. We all recognize that strong relationships between business/industry and education are essential. Education is a major player in economic development and diversity. Our great education system enhances our communities and makes moving or staying in Wyoming even more appealing. Since ENDOW is a broad based, multi-year effort, please consider how you and other education leaders can be part of the effort moving forward.

Memo to be released on Tuesday, May 30:

Jillian