All posts by Kari Eakins

Visits During the Legislative Session

Superintendent's Update

Dear Superintendents,

Education bills are moving through the Jonah Capitol chambers. By the time I send this the status of bills will have changed–the session is moving quickly. Up to date information can be found at the Wyoming Legislature’s website: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/

Have you registered for S5S? Register at: https://edu.wyoming.gov/educators/conferences/s5s/

The rest of this update is best told in photos. Thank you for providing so many opportunities for Wyoming students and educators to be civically engaged and part of the legislative process.

The State Superintendent with a group of elementary, middle, and high school students from Arapahoe School that serve on the student council.
Student Council members from Arapahoe School join us at the Capitol
The Governor and the State Superintendent are surrounded by high school students who serve as state officers for Career Technical Student Organizations and their state advisors in a legislative committee meeting room.
CTE Month Proclamation with students from across the state
Milken Educator Award winner Shannon Hill holds her award shortly after receiving it from WDE Chief Policy Officer Megan Degenfelder.
Shannon Hill (with WDE’s Megan Degenfelder) visits WDE, SBE, and the Capitol as the latest Milken award winner
Three teachers, who are candidates for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, stand in the gallery of the Wyoming House at the Jonah Business Center.
Candidates for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching visited WDE, SBE, and the Capitol (Jim Stith, Joe Meyer, Amy Kassel)
A student testifies before the Senate Education Committee during the legislative session.
Testimony on the importance of Computer Science at a Senate Education Committee meeting

Memos to be released on Tuesday, February 20, 2018:

Jillian

A Big Week

Superintendent's Update

Dear Superintendents,

We have a big week under our belts and a big week ahead:

Stakeholder groups including the accreditation task force and Chapter 29 panel met separately this week to continue work on their respective projects. The involvement of education leaders and stakeholders in the most important policy decisions is critical. I say it often and I will say again–thank you for your involvement in various groups and for generously allowing us to tap your top leaders from schools to assist us in our work!

We kicked off Random Acts of Kindness in Wyoming (officially February 11-17). Madelynn Oden, 15, of Casper, who with her two sisters, Katelynn and Delaney, raised $500 for Kindness Wyoming. First Interstate Bank matched the $500 and Madelynn presented the Kindness Wyoming Team with a check for $1,000.

Please encourage your schools to participate, invite media to cover culminating events, send photos to us to share on our social media, and pay it forward with a few RAKs of your own. More ideas at: http://www.kindnesswyoming.org/

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead sits at a desk to sign the Random Acts of Kindness proclamation, surrounded by State Superintendent Jillian Balow, members of the Leadership Wyoming classmates that requested the proclamation, and three girls who raised money for Kindness Wyoming.
Proclamation signing for Random Acts of Kindness in Wyoming Week–February 11-17

2018 Legislature

The legislative session begins next week. On Sunday, I’ll have the opportunity to address legislators at their party caucuses. I’ll summarize the state of Wyoming schools and comment on several bills including early learning programming, computer science, accountability, and school funding.

S5S

Don’t forget to register! https://edu.wyoming.gov/educators/conferences/s5s

Superintendent's Policy Summit; Save the Date; S5S 2018; February 26-28, 2018 in Cheyenne, WY.

Memos to be released on Monday, February 12, 2018

Jillian

Wyoming Students Selected for United States Senate Youth Program

News Releases

CHEYENNE – Thomas Lubnau III of Gillette and Harriet Pimentel of Powell have been chosen to serve as Wyoming’s delegates for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). The delegates will join Senator Michael Enzi and Senator John Barrasso in representing Wyoming in the nation’s capital during the 56th annual USSYP Washington Week, set for March 3-10, 2018. Each student also will receive a $10,000 college scholarship from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

Thomas Lubnau III attends Campbell County High School and serves as president of Wyoming DECA, a student organization with a focus on business and entrepreneurship. He is captain of both Team Wyoming and Gillette Hockey Association. He is a Congressional Award gold medalist, Boys State U.S. senator and speaker of the House and former Student Body and Class President. Tom shares two national championship titles: DECA travel and tourism decision making and U16 hockey. He is active in charitable work and fundraising. Tom attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Award program and the Air Force Academy Summer Seminar. He would like to attend a military academy, earn a degree in management and serve his country.

Harriet “Hattie” Pimentel attends Powell High School and serves as the parliamentarian, historian and treasurer for her school’s National Honor Society. She is also active in the robotics club, Varsity tennis team, the math team, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the ice hockey team. She has attended the High School Summer Institute and Girl’s State and works on her family’s ranch. Hattie taught classes with the Powell Makerspace, the Hour of Code program, and the 4-H Robotics Club. She organizes and teaches the Girls Maker Club, and created a computer program for the Powell Makerspace. She has testified to state legislators about a proposed computer science education bill. Hattie plans to major in computer science and get a law degree.

While in Washington, the student delegates attend meetings and briefings with senators, members of the House of Representatives, Congressional staff, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an ambassador to the United States and senior members of the national media. The students will also tour many of the national monuments and several museums and they will stay at the historic Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.

Delegates and alternates are selected by the state departments of education nationwide and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nomination by teachers and principals. The chief state school officer for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection. This year’s Wyoming delegates and alternates were designated by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow.

Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program brings 104 of the most outstanding high school students — two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — to Washington, D.C. for an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. In addition to the program week, The Hearst Foundations provide each student with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs. Transportation and all expenses for Washington Week are also provided by the Hearst Foundations; as stipulated in S.Res.324, no government funds are utilized.

– END –

Media Contact:
Kari Eakins, Communications Director
kari.eakins@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

Upcoming Legislative Session

Superintendent's Update

Dear Superintendents,

The 2018 Wyoming Legislature convenes on February 12. This is a 20 day+/- budget session and, as such, bills need 2/3 majority to be introduced (versus simple majority during a longer general session). The pace of a budget session is quite swift and staff at the Legislative Services Office (LSO) work hard to keep information up to date on its website:

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LSOWEB/Default.aspx

There are other resources on the legislature’s website to help you stay informed before, during, and after the session. Here is a list of education bills sponsored by a committee:

It is probable that there will be numerous education bills sponsored by individual legislators as well.

The upcoming State Superintendent’s Policy Summit (S5S) is a great opportunity to network with your colleagues, legislators, the education committee, and members of the House and Senate during the session. There are also numerous panels and breakouts that are directly relevant to Wyoming education. The conference is free of charge and every school district is encouraged to bring a team. Here is the link to more information and registration:

  https://edu.wyoming.gov/educators/conferences/s5s/

Superintendent's Policy Summit, Save the Date, February 26-28, 2018 in Cheyenne, WY, S5S 2018.

Memos to be released on Monday, February 5:

Jillian

WDE Developing List of Prescreened Expanded Learning Programs

News Releases

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) is developing a list of prescreened expanded learning programs in order to increase awareness of these opportunities. Nonprofit organizations in Wyoming can be included on the list by submitting a profile survey to the WDE.

Under Title IV, Part B of the Every Student Succeeds Act, these programs must have a record of success in running or working with before and after school or summer recess programs, or be in partnership with such a program to be listed. To meet the requirements for a record of success, organizations must demonstrate that they:

  • Operate as a nonprofit in good standing in Wyoming;
  • Have a minimum five years of experience operating and/or implementing expanded learning programs outside the regular school day for school-age children and youth in Wyoming;
  • Provide a statement of success that describes the organization’s quantitative or qualitative measures of success in local programs for at least the past two years.

Organizations that meet the above conditions, and are interested in supporting the work of after school and summer learning, are invited to submit the profile survey by March 6, 2018.

This request for information will not result in a contract with the WDE, nor does the listing represent an endorsement. The WDE will verify “good standing” status through the Wyoming Secretary of State’s website when the profile survey is submitted, and periodically thereafter. All eligible prescreened organizations will remain on the WDE website for two years, unless a request to be removed is received from the organization.

– END –

For more information, contact Karen Bierhaus, 21st CCLC Program Consultant at 307-857-9284 or karen.bierhaus@wyo.gov.

Media Contact:
Kari Eakins, Communications Director
kari.eakins@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

Kindness Wyoming

Superintendent's Update

Dear Superintendents,

In a couple of weeks our students will be focused on Valentine’s Day–cards, sweet nothings, secret admirers–all the stuff that turns my 6th grade son’s stomach. In 2017, students across the state celebrated a different type of love during Valentine’s week through Kindness Wyoming. It was wildly successful because of the efforts of teachers and students. The common celebration went like this:

  • Schools set goals to commit random acts of kindness-RAKs (307 was a popular number).
  • Teachers and students agreed on RAK ground rules–what constitutes a RAK? How will they be tracked? (sticky notes on a prominent school wall was common)
  • Students commenced doing nice things for one another.
  • Last year RAKs in the school led to RAKs in the community– cards for veterans, visits to assisted living homes, and so much more.
  • WDE, local news, and community members spotlighted Kindness Wyoming in schools.
  • Schools celebrated reaching goals which was secondary to the positive energy created by the week.

Again this year, I encourage all schools in Wyoming to celebrate kindness instead of romance on Valentine’s Day and throughout Kindness Wyoming week, February 11-17.

Last week, I sent a memo that warrants a repeat performance. Please pass this along to teachers and principals. Don’t forget to invite your local media to events during the week. The WDE would love your photos and RAKs to share on social media.

Pink, red, and purple heart-shaped sticky notes are posted on a school wall in a shape that reads "307". Each of the notes has had descriptions of random acts of kindness written on them.
Kindness Wyoming 2017-RAKs documented on a school wall

Accountability Across the Nation

As more state ESSA plans are approved we are beginning to see how others have established accountability systems post AYP and NCLB. Recently, the Education Commission of the States (ECS) released this report: 50-State Comparison: States’ School Accountability Systems. The report provides an overview of state accountability systems and the changes states are making as a result of ESSA. I’ll reaffirm that Wyoming had a solid foundation from which to build and our accountability system is stronger as a result of aligning it to ESSA requirements.

Economic Development and Diversity

This week the ENDOW executive council met and further solidified their preliminary recommendations, including education. Governor Mead signed two executive orders today to spur the work ahead. One recognizes Wyoming’s tech industry and the other sets ambitious goals for post-secondary education and training.  Here is a link to the executive order with a specific call to action for K12 and higher ed:

The Wyoming Department of Education, the Wyoming Community College Commission, Wyoming’s seven community colleges, and the University of Wyoming will collaborate on a plan necessary to achieve Wyoming’s educational attainment goal, implement strategies and programs necessary to fulfill the goal, and provide annual progress reports. Wyoming’s plan should meet the need of the State’s businesses and be aligned with priority economic sectors identified by the ENDOW Executive Council in its 20-year comprehensive economic diversification strategy as approved by the Governor. 

State Superintendent Jillian Balow stands with Governor Matt Mead and other education stakeholders following the signing of his executive order.
Governor Mead signs an Executive Order calling for K12-higher ed collaboration on vision and strategy for pos-secondary attainment

There are no memos this week

Jillian

Support Needed for Summer Food Service Program

News Releases

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) is seeking local sponsors to participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for the summer of 2018. This federally-funded U.S. Department of Agriculture program provides access to nutritious meals and snacks for children up to the age of 18 during summer months, when access to other school meal programs is not available.

The WDE invites any interested sponsors including churches and other private nonprofit organizations; public and private nonprofit schools; local, municipal, county, tribal, and state government entities; public and private nonprofit camps; and public and private nonprofit universities or colleges to be involved in the effort to help children become more successful in school through good nutrition. Sponsors are reimbursed a set amount for each meal served.

These summer sites must meet specific federal criteria regarding the income eligibility of either children living in the area, or enrolled in the program at the chosen site. The WDE can help with obtaining information for possible sites in communities.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the program should contact Amanda Anderson, Nutrition Programs Consultant, at 307-777-7168 for details regarding qualifications as a sponsor.

– END –

Media Contact:
Kari Eakins, Communications Director
kari.eakins@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Wyoming High School Graduation Rate Improves for Fourth Year

News Releases

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) announced today that high school graduation rates increased slightly to 80.2 percent in 2016-17, which marked four years of improvement from the class of 2013’s 77.6 percent graduation rate.

Full graduation rate statistics are available at edu.wyoming.gov/data/graduation-rates/.

“We are certainly encouraged to see another year of improvement in our graduation rate,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “We know that graduation rate is more than just a statistic, it’s a huge milestone for every student who receives their diploma. As we look at various measures of how well our schools are doing, this is an important one. We set some high goals for graduation rates in our plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act, and will be working hand-in-hand with our schools to continue to improve.”

Wyoming Graduation Rate. The percent of high school students graduating "on time" in 77.6% in 2012-13, 78.6% in 2013-14, 79.4% in 2014-15, 80.0% in 2015-16, and 80.2% in 2016-17. Students are counted in the four-year ("on-time") high school graduation rate if they earn a diploma by September 15 following their cohort's fourth year.


Fourteen Wyoming school districts posted graduation rates of 90 percent or above:

  • Uinta #4: 98.2%
  • Big Horn #3: 98.0%
  • Crook #1: 95.1%
  • Platte #2: 95.0%
  • Lincoln #1: 94.9%
  • Teton #1: 93.5%
  • Sublette #1: 92.9%
  • Park #16: 92.3%
  • Sweetwater #2: 92.0%
  • Big Horn #2: 91.7%
  • Washakie #2: 91.7%
  • Weston #1: 90.6%
  • Lincoln #2: 90.5%
  • Fremont #24: 90.3%

Since the 2009-10 school year, the WDE has calculated graduation rates using the Federal Four-Year Adjusted Cohort methodology established by the U.S. Department of Education, complying with federal law that requires all states to calculate graduation rates the same way. Students are counted in the four-year (“on-time”) high school graduation rate if they earn a diploma by September 15 following their cohort’s fourth year. Five- and six-year graduation rates are also calculated, and can be viewed with the rest of the graduation rate data.

– END –

Graduation Rate Brochure

Graduation Rate Slideshow

Media Contact:
Kari Eakins, Communications Director
kari.eakins@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

WASA, SLIB, ESSA, and Quality Counts

Superintendent's Update

Dear Superintendents,

Thank you for inviting me to be part of the great discussions at the Northeast Division WASA meeting. It was great to see many of you. Our discussions about economic diversity and computer science education left me enthused and motivated to continue the conversation.

On Thursday, the State Loan and Investment Board voted in favor of a $12 million+ grant to SEEDA. Sheridan will build a 100,000 square-foot manufacturing facility and lease it to a company relocating to our state. The name of the company will be revealed next Tuesday by the Wyoming Business Council via Facebook Live.

Also, the City of Buffalo received a $1,000,000 grant to build road and utility infrastructure to begin development of Phase 1 of the Buffalo Technology Business Park. This space has the potential to compliment the unnamed company and boost workforce and education opportunities.

The success of these two projects (and the others we voted on) depends on meaningful partnerships with K12 and higher education. This is the new face of Career and Technical Education and business/school partnerships!

Chief Academic Officer Brent Bacon sits with district superintendents from northeast Wyoming during their conference.
NED WASA superintendents in Ucross talk comp sci and economic diversity

I sent out a special update this week to let you know our ESSA plan was approved and that we received the high ranking of 7th in the nation, best in the west, in EDWeek’s Quality Counts Report. Here is the information once again:

Here is the link to the press release and final Wyoming ESSA plan:

https://edu.wyoming.gov/blog/2018/01/16/u-s-department-of-education-approves-wyoming-essa-plan/

 Also, Wyoming was ranked 7th in the nation for school quality in the annual Quality Counts report released by EDWeek. Here is a link to the press release and the report:

https://edu.wyoming.gov/blog/2018/01/17/quality-counts-2018-report-ranks-wyoming-seventh-in-education-quality

Wyoming scored slightly above average on two of three metrics. We are #1 in the nation for school finance and that metric score put us ahead of the pack for our overall rating. A main talking point from me will be quality, equitable, and sustained funding by the legislature. There were a number of ancillary articles and I found this one about the five commonalities of leading states particularly insightful.

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/01/17/five-common-traits-of-the-top-school.html\

COMING NEXT WEEK:

  • Thoughts about Random Acts of Kindness (memo below)
  • National comparison of accountability systems under ESSA

Memos to be released on Monday, January 22:

Jillian

Public Comment Open On Proposed School Finance Rules

News Releases

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) seeks public comment on changes to the Chapter 8 Rules: School Finance, which govern the administration of the Wyoming education block grant model, and the repeal of Chapter 25: Reimbursable Expenses Pursuant to School District Organization and Chapter 33 Wyoming Bridges Summer School and Extended Day Grant Program.

These rules are being revised following the passage of House Bill 236 and Senate File 35 during the 2017 Legislative Session. The revisions include the repeal of Chapter 33 Rules and the incorporation of Chapter 25 into Chapter 8, a modification to the manner in which districts calculate part-time membership for funding purposes, and a new methodology for computing average daily membership for students participating in virtual education programs. A full rationale for the revisions can be found in the Statement of Reasons.

Public comment on the proposed rules is open through March 2, 2018, and may be mailed to:

Wyoming Department of Education
Attn: Jed Cicarelli
2300 Capitol Avenue
Hathaway Building 2nd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002

Public comments may also be submitted online:

All public comments will be recorded, filed, and posted on the Secretary of State website as part of the rules promulgation process.

-END-

Media Contact:
Kari Eakins, Communications Director
kari.eakins@wyo.gov
307-777-2053