CHEYENNE – State Superintendent Jillian Balow has been appointed Treasurer of Education Commission of the States, a nonprofit organization that serves as a partner to state policymakers across the 50 states, District of Columbia and territories.

Superintendent Balow is the first person from Wyoming to serve on the Executive Committee of Education Commission of the States (ECS) since Governor Jim Geringer chaired the commission from 1999-2000.

“Superintendent Balow has served as an active and valuable Steering Committee member for Education Commission of the States and I am honored to have her join our Executive Committee as Treasurer,” said Jeremy Anderson, president of ECS. “We look forward to her leadership on the Committee and her contributions to our ongoing support for education leaders across the nation.”

The Committee is chaired by Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. As a Committee member, Superintendent Balow will work in concert with Chairman Bryant, the Vice Chair, and other Executive Committee members. Together, they will provide strategic direction and oversight for the management, operations, and financial policies of ECS. As Treasurer, she also serves as Chair of the Finance Committee and works with the Executive Committee to review and approve ECS’ budget, makes strategic recommendations regarding investments, reviews annual audited financial statements, and approves the selection of auditors.

ECS compiles research on education policies from early learning through postsecondary and workforce, and regularly issues relevant and timely reports providing education leaders with concise, factual overviews on these topics. The organization’s policy experts provide unbiased and non-partisan advice on policy plans, consult on proposed legislation, and testify as third-party experts at legislative hearings and interim committees.

ECS believes that the most effective policy occurs when all state education leaders are involved, and actively convenes state leaders to interact, collaborate and learn from each other.

“I am proud of the work being done across the U.S. by ECS, and I am look forward to my time as Treasurer,” Superintendent Balow said. “I remain committed to advocating for education and all children, and believe having Wyoming and other rural states in key leadership positions is essential. I am honored to serve both the people who develop and implement education policy, and the students who directly benefit from effective policy change.”

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Audio from Superintendent Balow

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

CHEYENNE – Fall K-12 enrollment data for Wyoming public schools for the 2017-18 school year is available online. Fall 2017 enrollment fell 0.3 percent to 92,976 students from 93,261 in the fall of 2016. The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has prepared several reports that break down the enrollment statistics:

• Historical Fall Enrollment since school year 1991-92
• Districts ranked by enrollment total
• Districts ranked by enrollment per grade
• District demographics
  

This data was gathered from all school districts throughout the state in a snapshot performed on October 2, 2017.

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

CHEYENNE – Governor Matt Mead will sign a proclamation on Tuesday declaring December 4-10 Computer Science Education Week. Wyoming schools have been encouraged to celebrate by participating in Hour of Code, a one-hour introduction to computer science.

“Last year we celebrated our first ever Computer Science Education Week in Wyoming and we’re hoping to build on its success this year,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “We know this is something that students, parents, and communities are interested in, and are happy to have partners participating this year as well.”

Google and the energy infrastructure company, Williams, donated funds to incentivize school to participate in Hour of Code. Each school that accomplishes 100% student participation will be entered to receive a $500 award to be used to purchase materials or necessary technology and equipment for their classrooms. All schools that participate in Hour of Code will receive a signed certificate from Superintendent Balow. A map of Hour of Code events in Wyoming is available here.

The proclamation signing will be streamed live on YouTube at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2017.

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

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CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education announced the participating Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) organizations in the State of Wyoming today. The program reimburses participating organizations for nutritious meals and snacks served to eligible children in child care centers and family day care homes, as well as eligible adults in adult care centers. The program teaches good eating habits and assures that well-balanced, nourishing meals are served in these participating centers.

Organizations are reimbursed for meals provided to children who are up to 12 years of age. The same meals must be made available to all enrolled children at no separate charge regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age. There is no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

All children receive free meals from their centers through this program. Centers are reimbursed for each meal by the USDA, and meals provided to some children qualify for larger reimbursements than others. Knowing your child’s eligibility will help your center. Eligible meals include those served to children who are in a household enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), foster children, and to children enrolled in Head Start. In addition, meals served to participants in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and those income applications based on household income qualify for reimbursements as defined by the Eligibility Guidelines below.

List of Program Participants by County

Albany

• U.W. Early Care & Education Center
• Developmental Preschool and Day Care
• Laramie Educational Afterschool Facility, Developmental Preschool and Day Care
• Laramie Child Development
• Laramie Head Start
• Kiddie Cottage Daycare
• Basic Beginnings North
• Basic Beginnings South/Aaron’s Place

Big Horn

• Basin Head Start, Absaroka Head Start
• Lovell Head Start Absaroka Head Start
• Shooting Star Academy

Campbell

• Boys and Girls Club of Campbell County
• Campbell County Head Start, WY Child and Family Development
• Little Bloomers

Carbon

• Rawlins Head Start, Carbon County Child Development
• Saratoga Head Start, Carbon County Child Development

Converse

• Douglas Child & Family Development, WY Child and Family Development
• Glenrock Early Childhood Center, WY Child and Family Development
• Glenrock Boys and Girls Club, Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming

Crook

• Moorcroft Head Start, WY Child and Family Development

Fremont

• Lander Child Development Services, Child Development Services of Fremont County
• Riverton Child Development Services, Child Development Services of Fremont County
• Ethete Head Start/Early Head Start, Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Birth to Five Head Start
• Ft. Washakie Head Start/Early Head Start Ft. Washakie, Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Birth to Five Head Start
• Great Plains Head Start, Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Birth to Five Head Start
• Smart-Start Quality Care
• World Cares Inc./Small World Children’s Center
• Donna’s Day Care
• Tears, Laughs & Cuddles Child Care
• Happy Kids Daycare
• Lander Head Start, Absaroka Head Start
• Riverton Head Start, Absaroka Head Start

Goshen

• Lil’ Bits n Spurs Child Care
• Torrington Learning Center, WY Child and Family Development
• Lincoln Infant and Toddler Center, WY Child and Family Development

Hot Springs

• Thermopolis Center, Absaroka Head Start

Johnson

• Buffalo Head Start, Absaroka Head Start
• Kaycee Boys & Girls Club, Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming
• Noah’s Ark Christian Daycare

Laramie

• Tiny Taught Daycare, DBA I Am a Promise
• F.E. Warren AFB Child Development Center
• F.E. Warren Youth Center
• Community Action of Laramie County/Head Start
• IYAH Learning Center
• Promise Patch Preschool and Daycare
• World of Wonder
• Diamonds In the Rough
• Triumph Early Learning Center
• Christ Lutheran Church Akidemy
• Alphabet Academy
• Alphabet Academy II
• Alphabet Academy III
• South High School – Supper
• Afflerbach Elementary-Supper
• Arp Elementary-Supper
• Alta Vista Elementary-Supper
• Baggs Elementary-Supper
• Rossman Elementary-Supper
• Kiddie Kollege
• Silly Bear
• Apple Seed Academy
• Early Head Start, Community Action of Laramie County
• Family Resource Center, Community Action of Laramie County
• Laramie County Head Start East Center, Community Action of Laramie County
• Laramie County Head Start Main Center, Community Action of Laramie County

Lincoln

• Kemmerer Child Development Center, Lincoln Uinta Child Development Association (LUCDA)
• Afton Child Development Center, LUCDA
• Thayne Child Development Center, LUCDA
• Alpine Child Development Center, LUCDA

Natrona

• Natrona County School District #1, Bar Nunn, Cottonwood, Evansville , Journey Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Mountain View, Pineview, University Park, Willard, Midwest-(PK and Supper)
• Angels Child Care Center, LLC
• Casper College, Inga Thorson Early Childhood Learning Center
• Mountain Ridge Akidemy
• Bright Minds Child Care Learning Center
• Helping Hands Early Education Center
• Sunshine Corner Day Care
• Learning Junction Children’s Center
• Natrona County Head Start/Home Start, WY Child and Family Development
• Natrona County Early Head Start, WY Child and Family Development
• Casper Early Childhood Center, WY Child and Family Development
• Lifesteps Early Head Start, WY Child and Family Development
• Greater Casper Boys and Girls Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming
• Mills Boys and Girls Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming
• Lincoln Branch Boys and Girls Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming
• Paradise Valley Boys and Girls Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming
• Verda James, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming
• Busy Bumblebees Child Care Center
• Neighborhood Child Caring Center
• Neighborhood Child Learning Center
• Kids Campus, Casper Housing Authority
• Wildwood Child and Adult Care Food Program (Sponsor of home daycares throughout the state)

Niobrara

• Lusk Early Childhood Center, WY Child and Family Development

Park

• Northwest College Child Care Center
• The Learning Garden
• Winsor Castle Daycare & Preschool
• Cody Head Start, Absaroka Head Start
• Powell Head Start, Absaroka Head Start
• A Little Paradise
• The Crane Academy
• True North Academy

Platte

• Platte County Day Care/Kid’s Kastle
• Wheatland Early Childhood Center, Wyoming Child and Family Development
• Guernsey Early Childhood Center, Wyoming Child and Family Development

Sheridan

• Marion Day Care
• Tongue River Child’s Place
• Children’s Center
• Sheridan Head Start, Absaroka Head Start
• Harmony Child Care Center
• First Light Children’s Center
• Healthy Sprouts Daycare

Sublette

• Children’s Discovery Center
• The REAL Center/The Redstone Early Active Learning Center

Sweetwater

• Green River Head Start, Sweetwater County Head Start
• Rock Springs Head Start, Sweetwater County Head Start
• Fits of Laughter Child Care

Teton

• EH/Headstart, Mercill Site, Rafter J Site, The Children’s Learning Center

Uinta

• Children’s Learning Foundation, Evanston Child Development Center
• Bridger Valley Child Development Center, Mountain View, LUCDA
• Children’s Learning Foundation, Evanston Child Development Association
• Evanston Child Development Center, Evanston Child Development Association
• Lil’ Rascals Academy

Washakie

• Worland Head Start, Absaroka Head Start

Weston

• Newcastle Child Development Center, Weston County Child Development Center
• Upton Child Development Center, Weston County Child Development Center
• Little One’s Family Child Care

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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, 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.

CHEYENNE – State Superintendent Jillian Balow was honored by the State Education Technology Directors Association (SETDA) on Monday as the recipient of the SETDA State Policy Maker of the Year Award during their 2017 Leadership Summit: Leveraging Technology to Personalize Student Learning.

“Whether we are talking about education, jobs, or Wyoming’s economy-leadership, technology, innovation, and learning are at the heart of the conversation,” said Superintendent Balow. “What we expect students to know today impacts their future opportunities and the strength of our state.”

Superintendent Balow was recognized for chairing the Distance Education Task Force in 2015 which led to the passage of the Virtual Education Act in 2017 and established a K-20 common statewide learning management system which coordinates online course offerings for K-12 and post-secondary. Under Superintendent Balow’s leadership, Wyoming has signed the Future Ready pledge, celebrated its first ever Computer Science Education Week, worked on a Classroom Connectivity Initiative, established a K-20 statewide digital learning conference, and worked with the Legislature on increasing access to computer science.

Founded in 2001, SETDA is the principal non-profit membership association representing U.S. state and territorial educational technology leaders. Their mission is to build and increase the capacity of state and national leaders to improve education through technology policy and practice.

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

CHEYENNE – Sara Reed, a kindergarten teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School in Campbell County School District #1, has been named Wyoming’s 2018 Teacher of the Year.

State Superintendent Jillian Balow says Mrs. Reed is the kind of teacher that every parent hopes is in their child’s classroom, “Mrs. Reed is a selfless teacher that puts her students first at every turn. She embraces the joys and challenges of teaching our youngest learners and understands that her impact reaches far beyond the classroom or a single school year.”

Mrs. Reed was raised in a family of educators in Gillette, and has taught at Hillcrest for 12 years. She is known for making every effort to get to know each student and their families so she can tailor her teaching to their needs. She also incorporates “movement with a purpose” into her classroom to help her students improve in their reading and writing, and have far fewer behavior problems.

Hillcrest Elementary School Principal Brad Winter says Mrs. Reed gives her students a great start to their educational career by ensuring that they have a positive experience in her classroom and is especially skilled at working with students with challenging behaviors: “She actually requests to have students with known behavioral challenges in her homeroom because she is confident in her ability to help them learn to manage their behaviors and have a positive experience in kindergarten.”

Mrs. Reed successfully developed the Kindergarten Mentor Program at Hillcrest, which pairs each kindergartener with a 6th grader at the beginning of the school year to ease the transition into school. Mrs. Reed matches students based on interest, gender, and culture, making sure ELL students have a 6th grader that can speak their home language to them. The buddies eat lunch together every day for the first month of school, and then the last Friday of every month. The kindergarten and 6th grade teachers work together to coordinate times for the buddies to do STEM projects, holiday projects, reading, writing letters, and educational games throughout the whole year. Principal Winter says the mentor program is one of the most positive and successful thing’s done at Hillcrest, and has helped ease the stress of starting kindergarten for many of the students and their families.

“Sara Reed is one of those outstanding individuals whose personal mission fits their professional mission,” says Campbell County School District #1 Superintendent Boyd Brown. “During her 12 years as a kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Reed has taken every student in her class and worked to meet their needs no matter what learning style they may have or other hardship they may be dealing with outside of school. She develops a personal relationship with each student and family and meets the learning needs of each student on a daily basis to create confident and successful students. Sara is a leader in her school, the district, and will be a great role model as the Wyoming State Teacher of the Year.”

As the 2018 Wyoming Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Reed will serve as an education ambassador for the state. Wyoming’s Teacher of the Year automatically becomes the nominee for the National Teacher of the Year Program, which is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers, sponsored by Voya Financial, Inc.

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

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) is seeking state residents interested in serving on the Wyoming Social Studies Standards Review Committee. The committee will review the state social studies standards to ensure the cultural heritage, history, and contemporary contributions of American Indians are addressed. This work will be done in cooperation with tribes of the region, including the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Indian tribes. The committee will begin meeting this fall, with 3-5 days of webinars and meetings from October through January.

Anyone interested in serving on this committee should complete the Call for Participants Survey. The survey will close at 11:59 p.m. on October 1, 2017.

Completing this survey expresses interest in participating, but does not commit anyone to serving on the Review Committee. Standards committee members will be chosen from the list of those interested, and will be contacted directly through email to confirm their participation.

In addition, the WDE is collecting feedback regarding possible revisions to the Wyoming Social Studies Content and Performance Standards addressing Native American history, culture, and contemporary contributions. The Social Studies Standards Review Committee will consider this input as they begin the standards review process. Input can be given online through the end of October.

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

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming graduating class of 2017 had an average composite score of 20.2 on the ACT according to The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2017, released today by ACT, Inc.

“The ACT is one of the measures that helps us see how well we are preparing our students for their future,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “We’re in the top half of states that give the ACT to all of their students, and now the work continues to improve student outcomes.”

Wyoming state law requires all students to take the ACT as juniors. The results released today represent the most recent score for students that graduated in 2017. Beginning with the graduating class of 2013, all students whose scores are college reportable, both standard and extended time tests, are now included in the reports.

Wyoming is among 17 states that has results for 100 percent of graduating seniors.

The Wyoming Readiness Report and ACT Profile Report can be found here.

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

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) released school performance ratings today. The state accountability measure shows that the majority of Wyoming schools are Meeting or Exceeding Expectations, and the number of schools Not Meeting Expectations is dropping.

“Schools are starting to make the progress they have been asked to make,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “Especially when you look at our elementary and middle schools, they are focusing on growth and equity, and getting results. As we put our state plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act into motion, and include post-secondary readiness for high schools, I hope to see even more progress.”

This data does not include school performance ratings for alternative high schools. The alternative high school accountability model is in its final pilot year for the 2017-18 school year.

Thirteen Wyoming schools have exceeded expectations for three consecutive years, and will be recognized at the State Superintendent’s 2018 Policy Summit.

Seven schools raised their performance rating by two:

• Burlington Middle School, Big Horn #1
• Glenrock Middle School, Converse #2
• Davis Elementary, Laramie #1
• Desert Middle School, Sweetwater #1
• Harrison Elementary, Sweetwater #2
• Torrington High School, Goshen #1
• Central High School, Laramie #1

Under the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act, schools serving grades 3-8 are rated on achievement, growth, and equity indicators. Indicators for high schools also include graduation rates, 9th grade credits earned, and Hathaway Scholarship eligibility.

As part of Wyoming’s transition to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), no federal accountability determinations were made for the 2016-17 school year. Starting in the 2017-18 school year, school performance will be published on a report card that includes information required by both state and federal law.

School Performance Ratings can be found here.

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

CHEYENNE – Today State Superintendent Jillian Balow has submitted Wyoming’s consolidated state plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to the U.S. Department of Education (USED).

ESSA reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and replaces No Child Left Behind as the principal federal law affecting K-12 education. To meet the requirements of ESSA, the plan includes achievement and graduation rate goals for schools, measures for how well schools are doing, and priorities for the use of federal funds to support schools, students, and educators.

State Superintendent Jillian Balow says ESSA gives Wyoming education a call to action to examine its strengths and challenges, “With this plan we double down with how we create opportunities for students as they prepare for success in college, careers, workforce training, or military service. Our charge is clear: school needs to be relevant for all students, and we can do better than we did under No Child Left Behind. As we implement this plan, we will continue to rely on the people of Wyoming to weigh in on how we are doing.”

Extensive stakeholder input was gathered through listening sessions, town halls, public meetings, individual stakeholder meetings, and online feedback opportunities to ensure that the plan puts Wyoming’s priorities first. Stakeholder input directly impacted the alignment of the state plan to the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act, the post-secondary readiness indicator for high schools, how the statewide assessment will be utilized, how funds will be utilized to support and prepare teachers, and how funds will be used to offer a well-rounded education.

States are required to submit plans for meeting the requirements of ESSA by September 18, 2017in order to receive federal funds. USED will have 120 days to conduct a peer review, evaluate the plan and offer feedback. More information on Wyoming’s ESSA state plan is available at edu.wyoming.gov/essa.

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Audio from Superintendent Balow

Wyoming’s ESSA State Plan

ESSA in Wyoming Fact Sheet

Accountability FAQ

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