CHEYENNE – The Wyoming State Board of Education (SBE) heard updates on the standard review process and timeline, as well as recommended changes to Chapter 6 District and School Accreditation rules at its virtual meeting on November 19.

The SBE received informational updates on the standards review process and timeline. The Wyoming Department of Education Standards & Assessment team has updated the review design criteria to reflect the board’s current definitions for standards. The standards review timeline previously approved by the board also has been updated. Public comment was collected through November 30 on Chapter 10, Wyoming Content and Performance Standards, including Math Extended Standards and the Computer Science Performance Standards. Information on standards and the updates can be found here.

The board also received recommended changes to Chapter 6 District and School Accreditation Rules. The interruption of school accountability determinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates changes to the rules on accreditation, so that schools are not negatively impacted by the 2020 school closures. Additional changes are recommended to reduce redundancy and provide clarity on the accreditation of institutional schools, thus eliminating the need for separate Chapter 26 Rules for Institutional School Accreditation. These recommendations will be presented as action items at the January SBE meeting.

The board also held discussions on the appointment of a nominating committee to make recommendations for board officers, as well as SBE options if cuts are requested to the board’s school foundation budget. The board received a presentation from Dr. Jean Garrison on the Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Project through the University of Wyoming. This project is including a new K-12 education component, in partnership with the College of Education Trustees Education Initiative. The goal is a library of virtual curriculum resources that will be free for Wyoming teachers and their students, including online resources, videos, and an opportunity for students to live chat in an “Ask Me Anything” session with an expert in the field.

The next board meeting is scheduled as a virtual meeting on January 21, 2021. For more information about the SBE, visit  the SBE website and follow the SBE on Facebook and Twitter.

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Media Contact:
Diana Clapp
(307) 851-3478
diana.clapp@wyo.gov