Dear Superintendents,

Thank you to those of you who participated in the live student discussion with Dana Perino. If you missed it or want to share it with others here is the link. 

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) released the COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs. The handbook may be helpful to Wyoming educators as we seek to address learning loss and the social-emotional wellbeing of students. Strategies are aligned to acceptable funding uses under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) including:

  • Meeting the social, emotional, and mental-health needs of students
  • Accelerating learning via instructional approaches, tutoring, and expanded learning time
  • Supporting use of technology for teaching and learning

The Wyoming Legislature wrapped up its work this session without passing a school funding recalibration bill. The House and the Senate came to a late-hour impasse on HB173. It’s anticipated they will take up school funding in a special session during the summer. As in years past, the WDE will assemble a webinar discussion for superintendents where we will share pertinent passed and signed legislation.

And, for your information:

The USED’s Office for Civil Rights Launches a Comprehensive Review of Title IX Regulations: ED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a comprehensive review of the Department’s regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as part of implementing President Biden’s March 8 Executive Order on Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free from Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity. In a letter, OCR outlined plans to solicit the public’s input on the regulations, ultimately leading to possible revisions through a notice of proposed rulemaking. OCR also plans to hold a public hearing to enable those who are interested to share their views through oral comments and written submissions. More information on the hearing will be available in the coming weeks and will be posted on the News Room section of OCR’s website. After listening to the public and completing its review of the Title IX regulations, OCR anticipates publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking.

Memos to be released today:

Blue Balow Signature

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