CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) today announced the state’s science results on the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card. Overall, Wyoming’s fourth and eighth-grade students in 2015 continue to outperform national average test scores in science.

“Overall results are favorable for Wyoming and that is a credit to our schools, students, and communities,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “As we look toward the implementation of new science standards, we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to make more progress and close achievement gaps.”

Wyoming’s average science scores have increased in 2015 for both grades four and eight since 2009. Wyoming’s average scores in eighth grade science, however, were unchanged in 2015 from results posted during 2011.

To compare Wyoming with other states in 2015, two states performed higher in fourth grade science, 35 performed lower, and nine were not reliably different. In eighth grade science, four states performed higher, 29 performed lower, and 13 were not reliably different from Wyoming.

NAEP provides an external reference or point-of-comparison to audit, review, and compare each state’s educational program. Additionally, it provides a stable trend line for tracking student achievement.

Results increased nation-wide in both fourth and eighth grades between 2009 and 2015. National results for 12th grade, however, were statistically flat or unchanged for the same six-year period. Wyoming has surpassed national NAEP science results for each testing cycle since introduction of the new assessment frameworks in 2009.

NAEP testing is administered every two years in reading and mathematics to Wyoming’s fourth and eighth grade students. Typically, NAEP science is assessed once every fourth year. All fifty states, plus the District of Columbia and Department of Defense (DoD) schools, participate in the reading and mathematics assessments. It is administered to a statistical sampling of Wyoming students and does not render test results for individual students or their schools. NAEP data therefore represents a sampling of Wyoming students and their responses.

International testing results from 2015 for U.S. schools in science and mathematics, as measured by TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) and PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), are scheduled for public release in late-November and early December respectively. Additionally a report to be released in 2017 will statistically link Wyoming’s 2015 NAEP results in mathematics and science for grades four and eight to the TIMSS reporting scale, thus allowing valid comparisons of Wyoming students’ performance with their peers globally.

For more details on Wyoming’s 2015 NAEP science results, go to edu.wyoming.gov/educators/assessment/naep/ and click the “2015 NAEP” button, or click on the links below:

Science Report

Fourth Grade Science

Eighth Grade Science

-END-

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

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming graduating class of 2016 had an average composite score of 20.0 on the ACT according to The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2016, released today by ACT, Inc.

“Just as we see and celebrate Wyoming students’ growth on the ACT and other statewide assessments, our placement among states reminds us that we aren’t there yet,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “At this time, it’s important to remember this is one important measure among many, and is an opportunity for schools across our state to make adjustments that help ensure that more students are successful on the ACT.”

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 2016. 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 18 states that has results for 100 percent of graduating seniors.

The Wyoming Readiness Report and ACT Profile Report can be found at: http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/CCCR_National_2016.pdf.

– END –

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

CHEYENNE – Results are now available online from the 2016 statewide high school assessments administered to students in grades 9 through 11. Eleventh grade students showed improvement in every subject tested, while 9th and 10th grade students exceeded the benchmark in English, indicating a high probability of success in first year college courses.

Consistent with Wyoming statutes, and to support calculations for Wyoming’s school accountability system, 9th and 10th grade students take the ACT Aspire, and 11th grade students take the ACT. The tests are intended to predict college readiness. This spring marked the first year that the ACT Aspire was administered, making statewide assessment results from prior years incomparable for grades 9 and 10.

“We’re very proud of the work done by WDE and school staff to successfully administer Aspire,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. “The shift to an online test is no small feat and took cooperation from all parties involved. Thanks to their hard work we now have a good baseline to work from.”

The WDE 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.

These results will be used to determine school performance ratings, which will be released in September.

The WDE will publish ACT results for the graduating class of 2016 along with the ACT annual report, The Condition of College & Career Readiness, scheduled for August 24, 2016.

– END –

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

CHEYENNE – Wyoming has discontinued its Affiliate member status with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) in order to enter the procurement process without perception of conflict.

“Wyoming’s affiliation with SBAC raises red flags for me as we consider a new statewide assessment,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “Any real or perceived conflict, such as with SBAC, detracts from securing the most appropriate assessment for Wyoming students.”

Contracts with Wyoming’s current vendors for statewide assessments in grades 3-10 expire January 1, 2018. A Request for Proposals will be issued in the fall of 2016 for a vendor for statewide assessments in grades 3-10, in accordance with Enrolled Act No. 55.

Superintendent Balow added: “The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides Wyoming with a unique opportunity. We expect a statewide assessment that is configurable, comparable, and affordable. Classroom and district assessments give us the best information about how students are succeeding from day to day, while a statewide or summative assessment is a broader look at how students are doing from year to year and how our state is doing compared to others.”

Wyoming joined SBAC as an Advisory State in 2010, was granted Governing State status in August 2013, and reverted to Affiliate member status in October 2014. Several Wyoming school districts also participated in SBAC field testing during the spring 2014 assessment window.

Letter to SBAC

– END –

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

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) will submit a waiver application request to the U.S. Department of Education (USED) from the requirement to assess students’ speaking and listening skills for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years. Public comment on this waiver request is being taken until April 19, 2016.

In September 2015, the USED released new guidance, which requires states to demonstrate that their assessments are aligned with the full extent of their adopted content standards, under section 1111(b)(3)(C)(ii) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended. The Wyoming Content and Performance Standards in English Language Arts address reading, writing, and language, as well as speaking, and listening. Wyoming’s state assessment system will undergo a peer review this spring to determine how well the statewide assessments address these areas.

The USED has noted that measurement of speaking and listening skills in a statewide assessment may not currently be feasible, and on March 2, 2016 the WDE received additional information on necessary steps for obtaining a waiver from that requirement.

Read Peer Review Letter from USED

The USED requires states to provide notice to the public and an opportunity to comment on the request. Comments must be submitted by April 19, 2016 through the online survey available here: goo.gl/forms/V7uK1zntTw.

– END –

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