Tag Archives: Career Readiness

Wyoming Comments on ESSA Rules

Superintendent's Update,

Dear Superintendents,

This afternoon, Wyoming submitted comments to the USDOE regarding proposed ESSA accountability rules.  Here is the link to the comments.

In a nutshell, we have asked for clarification and/or raised concerns about a number of items in the proposed rules including:

  • implementation timeline
  • ELL
  • burdensome reporting requirements for districts and the State
  • alternate student assessments

This is the first set of rules to be released for comment.  The WDE staff will continue to vigilantly review and assertively comment on proposed rules to ensure the spirit of the law is followed (state control over education) and that rules are conducive to Wyoming and rural education.

Also, this week’s lone memo holds information about an exciting professional development opportunity for Wyoming educators.  For the first time WDE staff is offering a Wyoming Career Development Facilitator course.  Too often limited school staff provide career counseling and it’s our hope to cast a wider net so that teachers, as well as counselors, might use best practices to help guide students as they make post-secondary plans.

A little girl rides on a training bull as others cheer her on at the Challenge Rodeo in the Cheyenne Frontier Days arena.
CFD Challenge Rodeo
A young teen raises her cowboy hat as she rides a training bull at the challenge rodeo in the Cheyenne Frontier Days arena.
CFD Challenge Rodeo
Concessions Chairman Alan Stoinsky pointing out highlights of the Challenge Rodeo to Wyoming Department of Education staff in the Cheyenne Frontier Days arena.
CFD and WDE Staff celebrating the Challenge Rodeo

Memo to be released Monday, August 1:

Jillian Balow
Superintendent of Public Instruction

Testifying in Washington, D.C.

Superintendent's Update,

Dear Superintendents,

As always, it was good to see so many education partners at the Joint Education Committee meeting this week.  The discussion was particularly helpful in two ways: 1) moving the ball forward with educational programs, and, 2) continuing the very important debate about education funding in Wyoming. I left JEC early to testify at a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. where I shared information about Wyoming’s investment in education using mineral revenues.  The bill, H.R. 5259, is co-sponsored by Congresswoman Lummis and would give states and tribes a stronger voice in coal policy and regulation decisions. Here is additional information about the bill and testimony I provided. 

Rep. Cynthia Lummis with Superintendent Balow

Next week, there are several events of note taking place in Cheyenne.  First, the Joint Appropriations Committee is meeting to discuss cuts to state agencies effective as of July 1, 2016 (the start of a new biennium).  In recent weeks, each state agency identified an 8% cut. This 8% is in addition to the cuts realized during the legislative session.  For WDE, this means our agency budget has been cut close to 16% since the beginning of the 2016.  As with school districts, WDE hopes to find ways to do more with less and keep cuts away from our core and statutory responsibilities as a state agency.

Wyoming’s Career Readiness Council will also convene next week to hear from state and national experts on how to shape the future of career and technical education in Wyoming. The council will make several important decisions that will keep the work moving forward and in a positive direction.

There are no memos this week.

Enjoy your week!

Jillian