Tag Archives: Every Student Succeeds Act

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

2016 PAWS Results Available

News Releases,

CHEYENNE – Spring 2016 statewide testing results released today by the Wyoming Department of Education indicated proficiency rates increased across most grade levels and content areas when compared to results achieved in 2015.

“These positive strides are the result of some great work from our schools, teachers, parents, and students,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “We’ve seen high commitment to not only align curriculum with standards, but to go above and beyond where possible. Based on the efforts we’ve seen from school districts to learn from each other and take advantage of the system of support, it’s obvious that our kids come first in Wyoming.”

School, district, and state results are available on the WDE’s Fusion site. They 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.

The percent of students who were proficient or advanced in reading in 2014 was 62% is grade 3, 64% in grade 4, 58% in grade 5, 57% in grade 6, 59% in grade 7, and 58% in grade 8. In 2015 it was 61% in grade 3, 60% in grade 4, 59% in grade 5, 57% in grade 6, 57% in grade 7, and 52% in grade 8. In 2016 it was 58% in grade 3, 65% in grade 4, 61% in grade 5, 58% in grade 6, 60% in grade 7, and 54% in grade 8.

The percentage of students who are proficient or advanced in mathematics in 2014 is 51% in grade 3, 47% in grade 4, 54% in grade 5, 49% in grade 6, 43% in grade 7, and 50% in grade 8. In 2015, it was 49% in grade 3, 51% in grade 4, 53% in grade 5, 49% in grade 6, 42% in grade 7, and 47% in grade 8. In 2016, it is 53% in grade 3, 55% in grade 4, 56% in grade 5, 50% in grade 6, 49% in grade 7, and 48% in grade 8.

The percentage of students who are proficient or advanced in science in 2011 is 55% in grade 4 and 51% in grade 8; for 2012 it is 63% in grade 4 and 51% in grade 8; for 2013 it is 58% in grade 4 and 44% in grade 8; for 2014 it is 53% in grade 4 and 47% in grade 8; for 2015 it is 51% in grade 4 and 42% in grade 8; and for 2016 it is 54% in grade 4 and 42% in grade 8.

The biggest increase in scores took place in seventh grade math, which had a 6.0 percent increase to 49.4 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced. Other increases were seen in fourth grade reading with 65.4 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced, fifth grade math with 56.3 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced.

Balow added: “We can also see in these results that there is work to be done to close achievement gaps for English language learners, students with disabilities, students on free/reduced price lunch, and homeless students. Implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act gives us a really good opportunity to ensure the right resources are getting to those who need them, so that we can create opportunities for every student to keep Wyoming strong.”

At-Risk Student Result Comparisons

Major shifts were made in reading and math content with the 2014 PAWS, making direct comparisons to prior years invalid. Science content standards have not changed, so there have been no changes to the PAWS science test.

The data produced from PAWS results will be used with data from ACT and Aspire results for accountability determinations. ACT and Aspire results will be released in August and school performance ratings will be released early this fall.

– END –

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

1st Virtual Town Hall Meeting

Superintendent's Update,

Dear Superintendents,

Good afternoon.  Yesterday we kicked off the ESSA Virtual Town Hall meetings with Standards and Assessments as the topic.  We started with this topic as sort of the “low hanging fruit” because, frankly, not much will change in theses areas for Wyoming as a result of ESSA.

STANDARDS

Over the past year and a half, Wyoming has implemented a new standards review and adoption process (piloted with science) and extended the timeline to “up to nine years.”  These changes have helped to create consistency in school districts, provided additional opportunities for public input, and initiated a more thoughtful standards review and adoption process.

ASSESSMENT

Wyoming is poised to adopt a new statewide assessment for 2018 but not as a result of ESSA. The Wyoming Assessment Task Force made recommendations that move Wyoming toward an aligned assessment system and some of the recommendations translated into legislation during the 2016 session.  Also, through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, we will focus on securing an assessment that is configurable, aligned to Wyoming standards, allows us to compare our performance to other states, and is reasonably priced.

The next town hall meeting will focus on teacher and leader quality.  It will be held on July 14 at 4:00. To join via teleconference, go to www.uberconference.com/wdeuberconference, dial 888-670-9530 or 307-438-9905, and enter the pin 38533 when prompted.

Please pass along information about the upcoming town hall meetings to principals, curriculum directors, board members, parents and others.  Here is a link to the media release with details.

OTHER UPDATES

Chapter 31 Rules

Many of us across the state have weighed in or worked on Chapter 31 rules (graduation requirements) over the past several years.  This afternoon, the State Board of Education voted to move forward with revised rules.  You may be feeling some deja vu about now, and rightly so.  The State Board voted on March 31 to move forward with Chapter 31 rules also.  Through the promulgation process, however, amendments to the rules were needed to align more closely with legislative intent. Here is a link to the proposed rules that will be open for comment. 

Transgender Bathroom Guidance

Wyoming has entered a lawsuit with nine other states against the federal government over transgender bathroom guidance at school.  The lawsuit was filed in Nebraska and centers around the usurping of local authority and a unilateral redefinition of portions of Title IX. Nearly half of the states (23) have now taken legal action regarding the guidance issued to schools in May.

There are no memos this week.

Jillian

Superintendent Encourages Public Engagement in ESSA Implementation

News Releases

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) announced today ways for the public to give input on the development of the state plan for implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

“It’s critical to look at strengths and gaps in Wyoming education as we align ESSA requirements with current state practices,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “Our goal is to strengthen and leverage our accountability system as we implement ESSA, and we will need meaningful input from all stakeholders to get that accomplished.”

Public comment on the ESSA implementation in Wyoming will be accepted through an online form through September 1, 2016. Additionally, a series of virtual town hall meetings will be held in July and August to provide information and gather input on five topics related to ESSA implementation.

The town hall meetings will take place at 4 p.m. on the following days:

  • Thursday, July 7: Standards & Assessment
  • Thursday, July 14: Teacher & Leader Quality
  • Thursday, August 4: School Improvement
  • Thursday, August 11: Accountability
  • Tuesday, August 16: Federal Funds

To join via teleconference, go to www.uberconference.com/wdeuberconference, dial 888-670-9530 or 307-438-9905, and enter the pin 38533 when prompted.

The Every Student Succeeds Act was signed into law on December 10, 2015. It reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and replaces No Child Left Behind. More information is available at edu.wyoming.gov/essa.

– END –

Wyoming Accountability FAQ

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

ESSA Town Hall Meeting: Teacher & Leader Quality

This meeting will provide information and gather input on implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act as related to teacher and leader quality.

To join via teleconference, go to www.uberconference.com/wdeuberconference, dial 888-670-9530 or 307-438-9905, and enter the pin 38533 when prompted.

Public comment on the ESSA implementation in Wyoming will also be accepted through an online form through September 1, 2016.

ESSA Town Hall Meeting: Standards & Assessment

, ,

This meeting will provide information and gather input on implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act as related to standards and assessment.

To join via teleconference, go to www.uberconference.com/wdeuberconference, dial 888-670-9530 or 307-438-9905, and enter the pin 38533 when prompted.

Public comment on the ESSA implementation in Wyoming will also be accepted through an online form through September 1, 2016.

ESSA Implementation Continues

Superintendent's Update, ,

Dear Superintendents,

The likelihood that you are busy wrapping up your school year is high – I’ll be brief.  We are close to finalizing dates for several ESSA related events.  First, WDE will host a series of virtual town hall meetings on the ESSA components that have the greatest effect on our state: standards and assessment, accountability, teacher and leader quality, federal funding, and school improvement.  Also, the Select Accountability Advisory Committee will convene as the base external design team for ESSA. This committee, formerly chaired by James Bailey, is now led by Judy Catchpole.  While the main focus for the group will be accountability, we will seek input on the other components as well.  I am conscientious of stakeholder fatigue and see utilizing this valuable group as a way to leverage a group that already exists.

Yesterday, the U.S. Dept. of Education released proposed rules for accountability, data reporting, and consolidated state plans under ESSA.  I have not had the opportunity to thoroughly review the proposed rules but am concerned that more State Chiefs were not involved in the work.  I’ll be attending a series of calls next week with other Chiefs to sort through the rules.  State Chiefs had no prior knowledge of the release.  We received communication when the proposed rules were made public.

This week, I had the honor of touring Ft. Hood Army Base with a group of K12 and higher education leaders from across the nation.  I spent several days alongside enlisted soldiers, NCOs, and COs learning about their jobs and opportunities in the service and as civilians.  For example, we toured the Base hospital and heard from a team of nurses and techs who support the Da Vinci surgical robot.  It was fascinating to learn just how high tech our Army is and how well-prepared soldiers are for college and careers after their service.  Additionally, I had an opportunity to network with other states and military leaders about using the ASVAB as a compass for military AND career readiness.  And, yes, I gladly volunteered to tandem jump with the Golden Knights from 14,000 feet!

Superintendent Balow smiling just before her tandem parachute jump with the U.S. Army Golden Knights.

 

 

 

New Chief Policy Officer
Beginning July 1, Lisa Weigel will take over as Chief Policy Officer for the WDE and State of Wyoming.  She served as a principal and Special Ed Director in Converse County prior to coming to WDE in 2015.  Please feel free to reach out to her with a welcome, questions, or your thoughts.

State Loan and Investment Board
Next week is the last SLIB Mineral Royalty Grants meeting for this biennium.  Many of your communities have requested funding for projects that will enhance business and strengthen infrastructure. Your local council members and commissioners have shared the importance of the projects with me and the other statewide electeds.  Please, if you feel strongly about a project, please get in touch with me before Thursday because, unfortunately, we can’t fund all of the projects.

Memos to be released Tuesday, May 31: