All posts by tgabrukiewicz

Wyoming Senators Driskill and Dockstader Join State Superintendent Jillian Balow to Lead Fight Against Critical Race Theory in Wyoming

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(EDITOR’S NOTE: This release has been updated to include a link to the draft legislation, as well as a link to the full media conference.)

CHEYENNE – Wyoming Senator Ogden Driskill will introduce state legislation to fight back against Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Wyoming; with Senate President Dan Dockstader co-sponsoring the bill.

Driskill’s Civics Transparency Act is currently in draft form with the Legislative Service Office. Driskill said his bill gives “parents the tools to know what is being taught in their children’s classrooms and prevents the indoctrination found in the critical race theory curriculum that has been pushed by the far-left and has found its way into some classrooms.”

The public can read the draft legislation here. They can watch the full media conference here.

Driskill’s efforts will establish Wyoming as a leader among states in keeping critical race theory out of classrooms while ensuring full transparency as to what is being taught on a day-to-day basis.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, an outspoken critic of Critical Race Theory and the Biden Administration’s push to incorporate it into K-12 classroom curriculum, supports the Civics Transparency Act.

“K-12 classrooms are not an appropriate forum for radical political theory such as CRT,” she said. “But it is not enough as state leaders to say what shouldn’t be taught, we also need to help school districts with what should be taught. That is why this bill is so critical. This bill empowers parents with the tools they need to oversee what is being taught in their district and provides guidance to districts on comprehensive U.S. history and civics instruction.”

“We cannot stand by and let America’s history be rewritten,” Senate President Dockstader said. “We honor facts, we learn history, good and bad, and we recognize that Wyoming is the Equality State.”

Driskill said he intends for this legislation to “reinforce that no one race is inherently better or worse than the other, but that in America the human race is just as the U.S. Constitution says — equal.

“To prepare Wyoming students for their future, they must learn how to create opinions and ideologies on their own terms, based on factual knowledge of history, rather than on the terms of Nancy Pelosi, the far-left, and Hollywood,” Driskill added.

Background: The Civics Transparency Act provides for civics curriculum and materials to be published on school district websites so that parents and taxpayers can review them before the school year begins. The Act also expands guidance on teachings about the US and Wyoming constitutions, and the American ideal that discrimination against anyone for their immutable characteristics or religion is wrong.

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Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

Senate Majority Floor Leader Driskill, President Dockstader and State Superintendent Balow to Host Media Conference Friday

News Releases

CHEYENNE – Wyoming Senators Dan Dockstader and Ogden Driskill will join State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow outside the Superintendent’s Capitol Office to host a media conference at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 10. They will discuss proposed legislation to fight back against Critical Race Theory in Wyoming’s K-12 classrooms.

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Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

Civics and Cultural Opportunities in September

Superintendent's Update

Dear Superintendents,

Civics and Cultural Opportunities in September:

  • September 11 is the 20th anniversary of 9/11 when a coordinated terrorist attack unfolded on American soil. Here are several resources for classrooms:

PBS 9/11 Anniversary in the Classroom 

9/11 Museum

  • National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15-October 15 and we celebrate the contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community.

National Hispanic Heritage Month Organization

  • September 17 is U.S. Constitution Day – the day that the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1787. In recognition, Congress has mandated that every educational institution receiving federal funding hold an educational program about this seminal document. Here are a just a few resources available:

National Archives and Records Administration and its free version of the U.S. Constitution Workshop

Library of Congress

National Endowment for the Humanities

U.S. Census Bureau

The Constitution Center

Jack Miller Center, Constitution Day 2021

*The resource lists are not exhaustive and, rather, are included to spark awareness and further research. Neither the Wyoming Department of Education, nor I, mandate, recommend, or fully vet all resources listed.*

There are five memos this week – here are a few highlights:

  • Wyoming’s Judicial Learning Center is located in the Wyoming Supreme Court building and open to the public. Prior to COVID-19 students were frequenting the Center in growing numbers (and they should – it is AMAZING!) At the Center, interactive learning brings the judicial branch of government to life. Prior to or in lieu of an in-person visit, there are many resources at https://jlc.wyo.gov/. All activities are aligned to Wyoming’s Social Studies content and performance standards. 

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“You Be the Judge” is one of the exhibits at the Judicial Learning Center and allows students to examine evidence and decide the verdict of a case.

OTHER MEMOS:

  • Wyoming did not participate in Cards for the Military Project in 2020 but we are eager to pick the project up again this year. I would love to visit your school to pick up cards personally (and I am working on bringing a special guest with me).
  • A new FAFSA campaign geared toward students and families is underway.
  • There are also memos about WAVES training and a cyber challenge for students round out the memos – take a look.

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Sneak peak at the new FAFSA campaign here.

 

FEDERAL COVID RESOURCES *Please Note: Schools and states that did not have in-person instruction during the 2020-2021 schoolyear are the primary audience for several resources below.*

Memos to be released today:

Blue Balow Signature

Summer Food Service Program Delivers Nearly One Million Meals to Wyoming Youth

News Releases

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Summer Food Service program for kids, offered through the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE), served nearly one million meals to Wyoming children and teens in 2021.

“We are proud to have been able to keep thousands of Wyoming youth fed from border to border this summer,” said Tamra Jackson, Child Nutrition Programs State Director with the WDE. “We are so thankful for the people who are on the front lines of this program: the people who deliver the breakfasts and lunches to our youth.”

In total, 434,535 breakfasts and 545,615 lunches have been served through the summer program, for a total of 980,150 meals.

Youth do not have to register or call ahead to receive meals and no questions are asked regarding eligibility for the program.

“Our goal is to get the food to youth who need it, not to concern ourselves with each families’ specific situation,” said Jackson.

Wyoming residents interested in the program for next summer should call 211 for meal service details in their area. For more information about the program, call Amanda Andersen with the WDE at (307) 777-7168.

The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded, state-administered program. The program reimburses providers who serve free healthy meals to children and teens during the summer months when school is not in session. In addition to serving food, summer food sites often include activities for students to do during the summer including crafts and games.

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This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 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: How to File a Complaint, 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: Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; Fax: (202) 690-7442; or Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

STEM Day Opportunity for Students

Superintendent's Update

Dear Superintendents,

There is still time for classes (middle and high) from across Wyoming to plan to attend STEM Day in conjunction with the Wild West Air Show in Cheyenne. September 10 is STEM Day. For more information please contact Lt. Maxwell McMillan at: maxwell.mcmillan.1@us.af.mil

Results from the 2021 administration of the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP) were released on Tuesday. Here is the media release and links to data.

The work of the Capitol Interpretative Exhibits and Wayfinding Subcommittee is underway. As the co-chairman of the committee (alongside Senator Bill Landen), I am very excited to provide students (and visitors of all ages) with an educational and hands-on experience at Wyoming’s Capitol. Stay tuned.

The Wyoming Education Summit will be held virtually on September 21-22. We have a great line-up of speakers and breakouts presenting under the theme of “Pursuing Excellence Together.” Here is a link to additional information.

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FEDERAL UPDATES

  • The U.S. Department of Education’s (USED) Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) sent a letter to state and local partners reiterating a shared commitment to ensure children with disabilities and their families have successful early intervention and educational experiences in the 2021–2022 school year. The letter outlines a series of question and answers (Q&As) as children return to in-person learning.
  • Public Comment on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Science Assessment Framework will be accepted through September 30. To learn more, click here.
  • On Thursday, Sept. 9, Understood, with the American Academy of Pediatrics, UnidosUS, and 2021 National Teacher of the Year Juliana Urtubey, will facilitate conversations to help parents and teachers move forward in the next school year together. The free event will be live-streamed via Understood’s YouTube channel and syndicated across its Facebook page. Learn more and register here.

Five Memos to be released today:

Blue Balow Signature

Superintendent Balow Mourns Death of U.S. Marine from Jackson

News Releases

CHEYENNE – Upon learning that Rylee McCollum, a 2019 graduate of Jackson Hole High School, was one of the U.S. Marines killed in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow released the following statement:

“Saying that I am grateful for Rylee’s service to our country does not begin to encapsulate the grief and sadness I feel today as a mother and as an American. My heart and prayers are with Rylee’s family, friends, and the entire Jackson community.

“We will find many ways to honor Rylee for this ultimate and untimely sacrifice in the coming months and years – but for now, my arms are wrapped around Rylee’s loved ones from afar and I pray they find some comfort.”

 

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Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

State Releases Assessment Results

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CHEYENNE – Results for the third administration of the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP) are now available online.

Wyoming successfully administered the state assessments to 96.46% of students in the spring of 2021. Compared to the 2019 results, there was a slight decrease in student proficiency rates for all content areas and grade levels, with the exception of grade 9 math. However, the student performance in 2021 was consistent with the first administration in 2018, which set the baseline for performance expectation.

“I am enthused about our participation rate,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “State assessment data represent the hard work taking place in every classroom in Wyoming. That was hard to accomplish in states that did not have in-person school.”

 

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WY-TOPP is administered through an adaptive online platform. Students in grades 3-10 took WY-TOPP summative assessments for math and English language arts. Grade 4, 8, and 10 students were also assessed in science through a fixed-form online assessment. Students in grades 3, 5, 7, and 9 were assessed in writing. More information is available here.

“WY-TOPP gives us useful data on where we were statewide last spring, but the most important assessment information is still what teachers gather in their classroom,” Balow said. “Together, this information will help us make sure we move all students forward from the educational disruption caused by the pandemic.”

All data for WY-TOPP and the Wyoming Alternate Assessment (WY-ALT) are now available. However, changes in enrollment and areas of low participation have limited the comparability and representativeness of the results for some student groups. Students eligible for free and reduced lunch, virtual education students, and some ethnic groups were impacted.

Unlike other years, these assessment results will not be used for accountability purposes. Wyoming received a waiver from federal accountability requirements and the State Board of Education approved exceptions from the state accountability requirements, meaning no accountability determinations will be made for the 2020-21 school year.

Assessment FAQ

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Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

Civic Readiness

Superintendent's Update

Dear Superintendents,

Earlier last week, I participated in a panel discussion about civic readiness hosted by REL Central, operated by Marzano Research. REL Central release of a new resource for state and local school systems to help educators measure or assess civic readiness. An article in K-12 Dive provides more context about the issue and the panel. Requirements for teaching and assessing Wyoming students about knowledge of both the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions are generally laid out in statute. There is not a specific or consistent assessment used across schools in Wyoming.

Statewide assessment results and information will be released publicly on Tuesday. 96.43% of students took the WY-TOPP assessment during the 2021 testing window. Statewide assessments, including WY-TOPP, were not administered in 2020 because of COVID-19-caused school closures.

FEDERAL UPDATES

The U.S. Department of Education communicated directly with school district superintendents and announced that it will administer a 2021-2022 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) for the second year in a row. The CRDC gathers and publishes information about students access to educational courses as well as school climate factors like use of discipline and student experiences of harassment and assault. To learn more, click here.

U.S. Education Secretary Cardona outlined his commitment to schools, students, and educators in a recent blog, Meeting the President’s Call to Support the Safe and Sustained Reopening of Schools. And, on NBC’s TODAY, he emphasized the importance of schools addressing students’ mental health needs (video and Homeroom blog).

A sampling of resources:

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Wyoming 2021 Teacher of the Year, Alexis Barney (Evansville Elementary School) greets rodeo fans at Cheyenne Frontier Days

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Alexis Barney and her husband Sam enjoy Cheyenne Frontier Days with the Governor, First Lady, and State Superintendent

Memos to be released today:

Blue Balow Signature

Wyoming Achieves 96.46% Participation Rate on 2020-21 Statewide Assessment

News Releases

August 20, 2021

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) will release the 2020-21 statewide assessment results on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. Wyoming successfully administered the statewide assessment to 96.46 percent of its students in spring of 2021.

“Wyoming schools went above and beyond to ensure that WY-TOPP was safely administered to as many students as possible,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow said. “While in normal years participation rate is secondary to performance scores, our high participation in light of the COVID situation is a win for Wyoming,” Balow said.

Results from the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP) and information about specific student groups will be discussed at a media conference starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Superintendent Balow and other WDE representatives will discuss the results and will be available to answer questions.

Members of the media may join the Zoom call by registering in advance using this link. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

Preparing for the 2021-22 School Year

Superintendent's Update

Dear Superintendents,

There are a few updates and several memos this week as we all prepare and meet the challenges of the 2021-22 school year. I ask that you preview the memos prior to the public release on Monday and distribute them to the intended audience, e.g. CTE teacher orientation goes to teachers, principals, and CTE coordinators.

Finally, the U.S. Senate approved a major bipartisan infrastructure package by a vote of 69-30 this week. The legislation approved does not have a strong focus on K-12 education but there are a number of education-related provisions included that I’ll be keeping my eye on (especially broadband):

  • $500 million to support energy-efficiency improvements and renewable energy improvements at public school facilities;
  • $500 million to support increasing transportation energy efficiency for school buses and mass transit, in addition to other vehicles;
  • $200 million to support voluntary testing or compliance monitoring for and remediation of lead contamination in drinking water at schools and child care programs;
  • $5 billion (FY22-FY26) to support a Clean School Bus Program;
  • $42.45 billion to establish a Broadband Access, Equity and Deployment program (not education-specific, but major implications for K-12 students and families).

Memos to be released today:

Blue Balow Signature