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

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