July 13, 2018

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming State Board of Education (SBE) voted to update the statewide content and performance standards in math and social studies during its meeting on Thursday, July 12, 2018 in Cheyenne. If approved by Governor Matt Mead, school districts have will up to three school years to implement the standards and align its curricula.

The math standards were reviewed as part of the approved review timeline, which ensures all content areas are reviewed at least once every nine years. The social studies standards were reviewed following the passage of a law in 2017 that directed the board to address Native American history, culture, and contemporary contributions. Additionally, the SBE approved extended science standards for student with significant cognitive disabilities.

Rules were also approved for Chapter 6 regarding accreditation and Chapter 31 regarding Wyoming graduation requirements. Governor Mead will now review the rules, and if approved, they will be effective upon his signature. The accreditation rules were reviewed by a task force to align with current statute and allow for a change in how external reviews are conducted. The graduation rules were updated to align with a change in statute that eliminated tiered diplomas.

“Stakeholder feedback was truly key to shaping all of the rules that were approved by the board today,” said Chairman Walt Wilcox. “As a board, we are very appreciative of the work of the Wyoming Department of Education in coordinating all of the entities involved, so we could focus on how these changes will impact students. We are especially pleased about the positive movement forward on the graduation requirement rules, and are eager to have these rules approved so Wyoming schools can have the guidance they need to help students reach this important milestone.”

The SBE also approved promulgation of regular Chapter 29 rules on school and district leader evaluation systems, accreditation for school districts and institutional schools, an update to its Governance Policies, and granted a waiver to Fremont County School District #38 from the unification requirement to operate Arapaho Charter School as a 9-12 high school.

The SBE will hold its next meeting and retreat on September 20-21, 2018 with the location to be determined.

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For more information, contact Kylie Taylor at (307) 777-6213 or kylie.taylor@wyo.gov.

Media Contact:
Dr. Thomas Sachse
(307) 752-1900
tom.sachse@wyo.gov