CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) will host stakeholder listening sessions throughout the state in April to gather feedback on how Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education grant funding will be administered in Wyoming over the next five years. The Perkins Act provides the majority of funding for Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Wyoming. Congress passed the latest version of the Perkins Act (Perkins V) in July 2018, known as the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act.” Originally passed as the Vocational Education Act of 1963, it was renamed the Carl D. Perkins Act in 1984 and reauthorized in 1998 and 2006.

“First, I want to thank Senator Mike Enzi for leading the way in getting this important legislation reauthorized last year,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “Perkins funds will provide over $5 million to Wyoming during the 2019-20 school year for Career and Technical Education for our youth, and for adults who go back to school to explore new career opportunities. Wyoming, please help shape our new Perkins plan that will be written over the next year.”

The WDE will host sessions from 9-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m., and 5:30-7:30 p.m. in each location to accommodate industry partners, local educators, parents, students, and community members who are interested in sharing their thoughts on CTE in Wyoming. Dates and locations include:

• Thursday April 11, 2019 Eastern Wyoming Community College, Room #131, 3200 W. C St., Torrington.
• Friday April 12, 2019 Laramie County Community College, Union Pacific Room #130,1400 E. College Drive, Cheyenne.
• Monday April 15, 2019 Casper College SH #217, 125 College Drive, Casper.
• Tuesday April 16, 2019 Northern Wyoming Community College Flex Space in the Tech Center, 300 W. Sinclair, Gillette.
• Wednesday April 17, 2019 Sheridan School District #2 Administrative Offices in Boardroom, 201 N. Connor St., Sheridan.
• Thursday April 18, 2019 Northwest Community College Trapper Room, 231 W. 6th St., Powell.
• Tuesday April 23, 2019 Western Wyoming Community College Room #1309, 2500 College Drive, Rock Springs.
• Wednesday April 24, 2019 Central Wyoming Community College PTC 150, 2660 Peck Ave., Riverton.
• Monday April 29, 2019 Virtual Meeting via ZOOM  or via phone at 1-669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 493 757 259.

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Media Contact:
Michelle Panos, Communications Director
michelle.panos1@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) will host stakeholder listening sessions throughout the state in April to gather feedback on how Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education grant funding will be administered in Wyoming over the next five years. The Perkins Act provides the majority of funding for Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Wyoming. Congress passed the latest version of the Perkins Act (Perkins V) in July 2018, known as the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act.” Originally passed as the Vocational Education Act of 1963, it was renamed the Carl D. Perkins Act in 1984 and reauthorized in 1998 and 2006.

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) seeks public comment on proposed revisions to the Chapter 14 Rules: Education Program Approval of Public and Private Institutions Receiving State Funds for the Education Costs of Students. The revisions are a result of the passage of Wyoming Statute 21-13-336 in 2016 (SEA 0034).

The current rules (from 2006) detail the requirements for institutional schools in cases where Wyoming students are placed by court order; however, there are no requirements addressing placement due to medical necessity. The revised rules will define the expectations that institutions and facilities must meet in order to receive payment from the WDE for the educational costs of students placed by a court order, or placed for medical necessity as verified by the Wyoming Department of Health. The proposed revisions are a combination of rules and regulations for both W.S. 21-13-315 and W.S. 21-13-336.

Public comment on the proposed rules is open, both online and by mail from through April 30, 2019. Comments can be submitted online or mailed to:

Wyoming Department of Education
Attn: Jo Ann Numoto
122 West 25th Street, Suite E200
Cheyenne, WY 82002

All public comments will be recorded verbatim, including the submitter’s name and city of residence, on the Secretary of State website as part of the rules promulgation process. When commenting, please specify which rule change the comment is concerning.

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Media Contact:
Michelle Panos, Communications Director
michelle.panos1@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

CHEYENNE – Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow applauds a new law that provides greater flexibility for Wyoming students to qualify for a Hathaway Scholarship.

“After years of work with industry and career and technical teachers, I am proud that Wyoming took one more step toward recognizing the viability of the trades and career readiness training,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “With this bill, we can help deliver the skilled workforce that Wyoming industries need, no matter if that’s a four-year degree or specialized training. Whatever our cars will run on in the future, we’re still going to need mechanics with advanced skills to keep them on the road. We need welders, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and wind turbine technicians. Also, with Wyoming leading the way in blockchain technology, there is a growing demand for computer coders, tech engineers, and developers.”

Senate File 43, signed into law today by Governor Mark Gordon, expands Hathaway Scholarship opportunities. Wyoming students with an aptitude and passion for specialty trades now have more options for meeting the Hathaway Success Curriculum requirements in high school.

For 2019 and 2020 high school graduates, students can take either the current Success Curriculum or the new amended curriculum. The new Success Curriculum will take full effect in the 2021 school year.

The Wyoming Department of Education will provide guidance for school districts, institutions of higher learning, parents, and students later this month

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Media Contact:
Michelle Panos, Communications Director
michelle.panos1@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) announced Tuesday the Wyoming Cowboy ChalleNGe Academy (WCCA) in Guernsey received its educational accreditation from AdvancEd, a national non-profit organization that accredits educational institutions based on standards of quality. Of all the National Guard-sponsored ChalleNGe programs, WCCA is the seventh academy to gain full accreditation.

Credits students earn while attending WCCA are now more easily transferable back to students’ home school districts and will count toward graduation. Several Wyoming schools are AdvancEd accredited in addition to state accreditation.

“I am thrilled to see the Wyoming Cowboy ChalleNGe Academy gain accreditation,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “WCCA gives each cadet who chooses to attend the academy the opportunity to explore many careers and trades, all while achieving their GED or earning credits toward a diploma.

“This was an incredible partnership we forged with our military, and we look forward to continuing to build on this accomplishment,” Balow added. “Wyoming succeeds when all of our students succeed.”

“Now that WCCA is accredited, we are looking forward to partnering with all Wyoming school districts in providing at-risk youth and non-traditional learners additional options for advancing their educational achievement,” said WCCA Director William Moore. “WCCA’s goal is to maximize a student’s credit recovery so they can rejoin their respective classes and graduate from high school. For those young men and women that can no longer achieve a traditional high school diploma, WCCA aims to provide them with the opportunity to obtain a GED and vocational education that will aid them in joining the Wyoming workforce.”

“We’ve been working toward accreditation for some time. I’m pleased our staff’s hard work allows us to continue to provide our state’s at-risk youth an alternative to dropping out of school, while partnering with Wyoming school districts to ensure they are college, career, and military ready,” said Major General Luke Reiner, Wyoming’s adjutant general.

The mission of the Wyoming Cowboy ChalleNGe Academy is to provide a safe, disciplined and professional learning environment that empowers non-traditional learners (ages 16-18) to improve their educational level and employment potential and become responsible productive citizens.

The WDE has developed a fact sheet to help answer questions school district might have, such as how this accreditation impacts districts when a student attends WCCA, then transitions back to his or her home district. This document will be updated as necessary.

For more information about the WCCA, visit wycowboychallenge.org.

Major General Luke Reiner, Adjutant General for Wyoming, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow celebrated the WCCA’s accreditation with a cake ceremony at the WDE offices Tuesday. 

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Media Contact:
Michelle Panos, Communications Director
michelle.panos1@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) announced Tuesday the Wyoming Cowboy ChalleNGe Academy (WCCA) in Guernsey received its educational accreditation from AdvancedEd, a national non-profit organization that accredits educational institutions based on standards of quality. Of all the National Guard-sponsored ChalleNGe programs, WCCA is the seventh academy to gain full accreditation.

Credits students earn while attending WCCA are now more easily transferable back to students’ home school districts and will count toward graduation. Several Wyoming schools are AdvancedEd accredited in addition to state accreditation.

“I am thrilled to see the Wyoming Cowboy ChalleNGe Academy gain accreditation,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “WCCA gives each cadet who chooses to attend the academy the opportunity to explore many careers and trades, all while achieving their GED or earning credits toward a diploma.

“This was an incredible partnership we forged with our military, and we look forward to continuing to build on this accomplishment,” Balow added. “Wyoming succeeds when all of our students succeed.”

“Now that WCCA is accredited, we are looking forward to partnering with all Wyoming school districts in providing at-risk youth and non-traditional learners additional options for advancing their educational achievement,” said WCCA Director William Moore. “WCCA’s goal is to maximize a student’s credit recovery so they can rejoin their respective classes and graduate from high school. For those young men and women that can no longer achieve a traditional high school diploma, WCCA aims to provide them with the opportunity to obtain a GED and vocational education that will aid them in joining the Wyoming workforce.”

“We’ve been working toward accreditation for some time. I’m pleased our staff’s hard work allows us to continue to provide our state’s at-risk youth an alternative to dropping out of school, while partnering with Wyoming school districts to ensure they are college, career, and military ready,” said Major General Luke Reiner, Wyoming’s adjutant general.

The mission of the Wyoming Cowboy ChalleNGe Academy is to provide a safe, disciplined and professional learning environment that empowers non-traditional learners (ages 16-18) to improve their educational level and employment potential and become responsible productive citizens.

The WDE has developed a fact sheet to help answer questions school district might have, such as how this accreditation impacts districts when a student attends WCCA, then transitions back to his or her home district. This document will be updated as necessary.

For more information about the WCCA, visit wycowboychallenge.org.

Major General Luke Reiner, Adjutant General for Wyoming, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow celebrated the WCCA’s accreditation with a cake ceremony at the WDE offices Tuesday. 

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Media Contact:
Michelle Panos, Communications Director
michelle.panos1@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

CHEYENNE – The State Board of Education (SBE) requests public input on the Proposed 2019 Wyoming Computer Science Content and Performance Standards. The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) will collect public input through an online survey until 11:59 p.m. on March 5, 2019 and also at regional meetings.

Public input meetings will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• February 25, Green River – SCSD #2 Central Admin. Office, 351 Monroe Avenue.
• February 25, Buffalo – JCSD #1 Buffalo High School, 29891 Old Hwy 87.
• February 26, Meeteetse – PCSD #16 School Building, 2107 Idaho Street.
• February 26, Douglas – CCSD #1, Admin. Building, 615 Hamilton Street.
• February 28, Cheyenne – LCSD #1, Storey Gym, 2811 House Avenue.

A summary of the public input gathered during these meetings will be presented to the SBE at its March meeting. If the SBE moves to adopt the draft standards, an additional public comment period will follow before the new standards are adopted.

Once adopted, school districts will have until the 2022-23 school year to implement the new standards into their curriculum, instruction and assessment system.

“We rely on Wyoming citizens to make the most important policy decisions – computer science is no exception. The standards committee was comprised of 40 members including 16 teachers. I have full faith and confidence in their work,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “We value additional input from the public to ensure we do our very best to prepare kids for tomorrow’s world.”

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Media Contact:
Michelle Panos, Communications Director
michelle.panos1@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

CHEYENNE – In an effort to head off hunger and poor nutrition across the state, the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) seeks sponsors for the Summer Food Service Program. This is a federally funded program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months.

While sponsors are needed across the state, Powell and Sheridan are in need of additional sponsors.

Sponsors may include public and private nonprofit schools; local and municipal sites; houses of worship; county, tribal and state government entities; private nonprofit organizations; public and private nonprofit camps; and public and private nonprofit universities or colleges.

Summer food program sites must either be in the attendance area of a school where 50 percent or more of students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals, or within the boundaries of a U.S. Census block where at least 50 percent of children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals at school. Once those criteria are met, the site is open to all area children under age 18. The WDE may assist sponsors in obtaining information about possible sites.

Last year, Wyoming summer food service program sites provided 296,071 meals and snacks, which is nearly 60,000 additional meals over the previous summer. Sponsors are reimbursed a set amount for each meal served. More information is available on the WDE website.

The USDA is an equal opportunity provider.

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Media Contact:
Michelle Panos, Communications Director
michelle.panos1@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) is developing a list of prescreened nonprofit organizations that provide expanded learning programs, curriculum, and activities to youth.

Eligible organizations interested in supporting the work of after school and summer learning, are invited to submit a profile survey by February 8, 2019.

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.

“Every student should have access to enrichment opportunities during non-school hours and 21st CCLC is one way to help achieve that,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “These programs inspire, spark interest, and help students be successful in school.”

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Media Contact:
Michelle Panos, Communications Director
michelle.panos1@wyo.gov
307-777-2053

CHEYENNE – A new tool for parents, educators, and others to access information about Wyoming schools and districts is now available at wyomingmeasuresup.com. The Wyoming Department of Education created the user-friendly website to house its State Report Card, a requirement of the federally mandated Every Student Succeeds Act.

“Transparency and public engagement are two of the main tenets of the Every Student Succeeds Act,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “Our state report card gives everyone the ability to easily find information on their school and see how it compares to other schools in their district and across the state.”

Visitors to the new report card can view information from the 2017-18 school year at the state, district, and school level. Sections include school performance, assessments, enrollment, graduation, teachers, and more.

The State Report Card is an ongoing, annual requirement of the Every Student Succeeds Act, and will be updated and improved every year.

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