CHEYENNE – Results are now available online from the 2017 statewide high school assessments administered to students in grades 9 through 11. The results show similar performance to prior years with statistically insignificant increases in grades 9 and 10, and statistically insignificant decreases in grade 11.

“We have the privilege of offering the ACT to every student and will continue to do so as we add WY-TOPP to our assessment system,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. ”This is not the time to be complacent. At the state level we will continue to focus on every measure for student success and support schools helping students succeed in school and in life.”

In the spring of 2017, students in grades 11 took the ACT, and for the second year, students in grades 9 and 10 took the ACT Aspire online. Schools had the option to offer the ACT online this past spring, marking the first time that option was made available in Wyoming. The tests are intended to predict college readiness. These results will be used to determine school performance ratings.

The Wyoming Department of Education established new performance levels for the ACT in 2014 delineating Advanced, Proficient, Basic, and Below Basic performance in the subject area tests. Current results are not directly comparable to years prior to 2014 because they represent a much higher set of expectations for Wyoming students.

Starting in the 2017-18 school year, students will take the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP). The new test will assess proficiency in reading and math for students in grades 3-10, science for students in grades 4, 8, and 10, and writing for students in grades 3, 5, 7, and 9. It will be an online, adaptive assessment with various item types such as multiple choice, technology enhanced, and constructed response. The results will be comparable to students’ scores from other states and will be used for accountability purposes.

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

CHEYENNE – State Superintendent Jillian Balow is pleased to announce the hiring of Megan Degenfelder as the new Chief Policy Officer at the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE). Megan previously worked in government affairs for Cloud Peak Energy in Gillette. Megan is a Casper native, former UW Student Body President, and was a classroom teacher in Beijing while she got her master’s in economics from the Beijing University of International Business and Economics.

Megan is exactly the kind of strategic thinking leader we need heading up our policy group at the WDE,” said Superintendent Balow. “Her experience in the classroom and the Wyoming legislature make her a great fit for where we are headed in Wyoming education. I also like the fact that she has deep roots in our state and is coming to WDE from the energy industry with a deep understanding of the fiscal challenges we face in education and as a state.”

WDE Chief of Staff Dicky Shanor added, “Because this position demands long hours and challenging issues, we really wanted to find someone with a solid policy background and a passion for education and Wyoming’s future-Megan fit this mold well. We are happy to have her on the team.”

Megan’s official start date was August 1. She is in charge of all legislative and other policy work including accountability, standards and assessment at the WDE.

“I am thrilled to take on this opportunity at the Department of Education. I look forward to working to overcome budgetary and other policy challenges facing our state in education, and hope to bring a fresh perspective to the team,” said Degenfelder.

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

CHEYENNE – Spring 2017 statewide testing results were released today by the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE). School, district, and state results are available on the WDE’s Fusion site. These include results for the Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students (PAWS) and alternate assessments in reading and mathematics for students in grades 3 through 8, and in science for grades 4 and 8.

“Wyoming schools have demonstrated a solid foundation of learning that we need to build on and continue to improve,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “The growth that we saw in two of the three areas is a credit to a continued focus on high quality teaching and student learning. Now, each school will look carefully at this data to help set instructional goals for the upcoming year. I anticipate these goals will be ambitious with a continued focus on superb instruction and improved student outcomes.”

Notable increases in scores took place in eighth grade science, which had a 3.7 percent increase to 45.3 percent of students proficient or advanced, and fourth grade math, which had a 2.6 percent increase to 57.8 percent of students proficient or advanced.

For the first time, a breakdown of the performance of full-time virtual education students on PAWS is included in the results. They were added as an additional student group for reporting as part of the 2017 Virtual Education Act.

Starting in the 2017-18 school year, students will take the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP). The new test will assess proficiency in reading and math for students in grades 3-10, science for students in grades 4, 8, and 10, and writing for students in grades 3, 5, 7, and 9. It will be an online, adaptive assessment with various item types such as multiple choice, technology enhanced, and constructed response. The results will be comparable to students’ scores from other states and will be used for accountability purposes.

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

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education will conduct community input meetings on Wyoming’s Social Studies Content and Performance Standards as they pertain to Wyoming’s new “American Indian education program” legislation. These meetings will inform the public of the standards review process and gather public input to be shared with the Social Studies Standards Review Committee for their consideration prior to their work.

A presentation will discuss House Enrolled Act 119 and the process to ensure the cultural heritage, history, and contemporary contributions of American Indians are addressed in the review of the Social Studies Standards.

Participants will be asked to respond to two questions:

• Why is it important for everyone to learn about American Indians?
• What do you want the review committee to know about the cultural heritage, history, and contemporary contributions of American Indians as they review the Social Studies Standards?

The meetings will take place from 6-8 p.m.

• June 12, Frank B. Wise Building, Main Conference Room, 3 Ethete Road, Fort Washakie
• June 13, Central Wyoming College, Intertribal Education Center Room 116, 2660 Peck Avenue, Riverton
• June 15, Park #6 Administration Office Board Room 2nd Floor, 919 Cody Avenue, Cody
• June 22, Sheridan # 2 Administration Office Board Room, 201 North Connor Street, Sheridan
• June 29, Laramie #1 Administration Office Board Room, 2810 House Avenue, Cheyenne

Those unable to attend can respond online through September 8, 2017.

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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 public comment on the Chapter 43 Rules, School Nutrition Pilot Project, which can be viewed online along with the Statement of Reasons. These rules establish the minimum requirements that districts must meet to be eligible for financial assistance in acquiring Wyoming-grown meat for school lunches. Eligible districts can apply to the WDE Child Nutrition Program in order to receive financial assistance to offset processing costs for donated Wyoming poultry, lamb, pork, beef, or bison.

Public comment on the proposed rules is open from June 2 to July 17, 2017. Comments will be posted on the Secretary of State website, and may be submitted online or by mail to:

Wyoming Department of Education
Attn: Susan Benning
2300 Capitol Avenue
Hathaway Building 2nd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002-2060

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

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) announced today that Aiden Weinzierl, a sixth-grade student at Anderson Elementary School in Cheyenne, has won the contest to name the new statewide assessment with his submission, WY-TOPP, for Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress.

WY-TOPP will replace the Proficiency Assessment for Wyoming Students (PAWS) in grades 3-8 and ACT Aspire in grades 9-10. The ACT will continue to be administered to students in grade 11.

“With 99 submissions from across the state, we had several good options to choose from,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “We went with WY-TOPP because it reflects the quality of the assessment as well as where Wyoming is with respect to its student and teachers.”

WY-TOPP will assess proficiency in reading and math for students in grades 3-10 and science for students in grades 4, 8, and 10. It will be an online assessment with various item types such as multiple choice, technology enhanced, and constructed response. The results will be comparable to students’ scores from other states and will be used for accountability purposes.

The WDE is currently in contract negotiations with the American Institutes for Research (AIR). The Wyoming State Board of Education approved them as the vendor for the new statewide assessment in February. Further information including testing dates and technology specifications will be available once contracts are in place.

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

CHEYENNE – The fourth annual Roadmap to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Conference will include a focus on the Arts. The conference will feature the theme “STE(a)Ming into the Future” at Gillette College August 2-4, 2017.

“Including the Arts is way for us to improve the Roadmap to STEM Conference,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “Educators will receive hands on, practical training that they can immediately use in their classrooms to further induce creativity and innovation in science, technology, engineering and math.”

Three days of active learning and practical classroom resources for almost any P-16 learning environment await participants. The Ann Simpson Artmobile will be on display and can be viewed during the Share-A-Thon along with other products and services that align with STEM education.

Dr. Lodge McCammon will offer a keynote presentation on music and movement, showing how his kinesthetic strategies can be used to ignite the brain and enhance the STEM learning environment.

Session topics will include connecting culinary arts to math, emphasizing creativity in core curriculum, enhancing scientific understanding through drawing, artistic inquiry in the engineering design process, making drones, integrating elementary science activities across curriculum, coding in the classroom, and much more.

The conference will partner with local professionals on half-day STEM experiences to connect educators with real-world applications of STEM. A variety of off-site STEM adventures will be available, including a geological excursion to Devil’s Tower and an interactive exploration of solar energy.

In addition, Physics Girl Dianna Cowern will offer a keynote on engaging girls in science and STEM, and Wyoming’s 2017 Teacher of the Year Ryan Fuhrman will share take away strategies and resources that he uses in his 7th grade classroom to guide students to think more deeply using the new Wyoming science standards.

Information about the conference and registration can be found at:
edu.wyoming.gov/in-the-classroom/career-tech-ed/stem/.

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STEM Conference Video

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

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has scheduled a series of public meetings for gathering input of the draft state plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). These meetings will inform the public of the draft ESSA State Plan and gather input to be shared with WDE staff for their consideration as they continue work on the plan.

Stakeholder engagement and public review of the plan are required under ESSA. The draft ESSA State Plan proposes long-term goals for schools, measures for how well schools are doing, and priorities for the use of federal funds to support schools, students, and educators.

The ESSA public meetings will take place at 6:30 p.m.

• May 4, online, register here
• May 11, Northwest College, Fagerburg Building Rm  70, 233 W 7th Street, Powell
• May 18, Riverton Middle School, Multipurpose Room, 840 Major Avenue, Riverton
• June 7, Laramie Junior High School, Library, 1355 North 22nd Street, Laramie

The public meetings take place during the 45-day comment period on Wyoming’s draft ESSA State Plan, which goes through June 8, 2017. Comments can also be submitted online or by mail to:

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

ESSA reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the principal federal law affecting K-12 education, and replaces No Child Left Behind. Wyoming must submit its ESSA State Plan by September 18, 2017.

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

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) will conduct regional community meetings on Wyoming’s Mathematics Content and Performance Standards. These meetings will inform the public of the standards review process and gather public input to be shared with the Math Standards Review Committee for their consideration prior to their work.

A presentation will cover the design criteria, goals, objectives, definitions of the standards, and answer questions pertaining to the review process. Participants will be asked to respond to two questions:

1. Why are Math Standards important for students, teachers, and parents?
2. What do you want the Math Standards Review Committee to know as they start the review process?

Meetings will take place in Powell, Casper, Rock Springs, and Cheyenne from 6-8 p.m.

• May 2, Powell High School, Library, 1150 East 7th Street, Powell
• May 3, Natrona #1 Central Services Facility, Jefferson Room, 970 North Glenn Road, Casper
• May 4, Rock Springs High School, Board Room, 3550 Foothill Boulevard, Rock Springs
• May 9, Laramie #1 Administrative Building, Room #130, 2811 House Avenue, Cheyenne

Those unable to attend can respond to the same two questions online.

The WDE and State Board of Education are still taking public input on Wyoming’s current math standards for the review committee to consider as they begin the standards review process. Specific input on the standards can be given online through May.

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

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) today announced the release of Wyoming’s draft Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State Plan for a 45-day public comment period. The draft plan is available on the WDE’s website.

“This plan builds off of the strengths in Wyoming’s education system and our ongoing commitment to excellence. The goals for our schools are based on our state’s priorities instead of the federal government’s,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “From standards to accountability to best use of federal funds, ESSA places the responsibility to provide a well-rounded education to every student squarely on our shoulders. A public review of this plan by educators, parents, the employer community, and other citizens is essential. We need to make sure Wyoming kids are put first.”

Superintendent Balow lists the post-secondary readiness indicator and supports for schools and educators as highlights of the draft plan, “We want our students to be ready for their next step after high school, and we’re excited to begin looking at both college and career readiness measures for the first time as a state. We also know from our state accountability model that the way to help schools improve is to make sure they have the right kinds of support and that educators have what they need to do their jobs. Our ESSA state plan will allow us to apply this same strategy with federal funds. We are not here to punish schools and students, we are here to help them do better.”

During this public comment period, the Wyoming Department of Education will convene the Advisory Committee and work with the State Board of Education to convene the Professional Judgment Panel to refine the indicators that will meet the requirements for both accountability models to ensure Wyoming schools operate under a single, coherent system.

Comments can be submitted to the WDE through June 8, 2017 through an online survey, public meetings, or by mail. An online public meeting will take place on May 4 at 6:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to participate can register online. Additional public meetings are tentatively planned to take place on May 11 in Powell, May 18 in Riverton, and June 7 in Laramie.

Comments can be mailed to:

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

ESSA reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the principal federal law affecting K-12 education, and replaces No Child Left Behind.

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Wyoming’s Draft State Plan

Accountability FAQ

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