The WDE Parent Summit brought parents, educators, and community members together to learn from local experts about how to engage with their local district, understand the different roles between the local district, Wyoming Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Education, and various education topics like school finance, special education, public records laws, and more. Recordings and presentations from each session can be viewed below.
The WDE Parent Summit brought parents, educators, and community members together to learn from local experts about how to engage with their local district, understand the different roles between the local district, Wyoming Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Education, and various education topics like school finance, special education, public records laws, and more.
- Hear directly from the presenters here.
Parental engagement with local districts, workforce preparation, and visioning at a local level, and the future of K-12 education in Wyoming.
- Presenters: Megan Degenfelder, Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Mike Harris, Fremont County SD #1; and Dr. Mark Mathern, Chairman, Wyoming State Board of Education.
- Hear directly from the presenters here.
Walk through state standards creation and state assessment creation and implementation, and how this drives curriculum and instruction, and what it means for parents on where their kids are and what they should ask of their schools.
An in-depth discussion of the “Prohibition of institutional discrimination” bill, defining “Institutional discrimination” and “Diversity, Equity, or Inclusion” as stated in the law, and clarifying what instruction and programs are or are not permitted in light of the new statute
A panel discussion explaining the division of authority: the board’s role (policy, finance, hiring the Superintendent) versus the Superintendent’s role (day-to-day operations, curriculum, staffing). Focus on the best avenues for parental input.
Training for parents on how to use the Wyoming Public Records Act to access school district records, correspondence, and policies. It will cover what documents are considered “public records” and how to properly file a request, while also addressing exemptions like FERPA (student privacy).
A session on the basics of Wyoming’s school finance model. Parents will learn where their district’s money comes from (state, local, federal), how it’s allocated, and the most effective time to influence budget priorities.
