SF0057

Official summary

SF0057 Bill No.: SF0057 Drafter: TH LSO No.: 12LSO-0140 Effective Date: March 21, 2012 Enrolled Act No.: SEA0065 Chapter No.: CH0101 Prime Sponsor: Joint Education Interim Committee Catch Title: Education accountability. Subject: Wyoming Accountability in Education Act. Summary/Major Elements: This act: Modifies the statewide assessment and accountability provisions of the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act; Creates a comprehensive scheme for design and implementation of a statewide educational accountability system, with the 2011 legislation serving as the backdrop. Charges the State Board of Education with setting the policy and drafting the guiding business rules for assessment and accountability; Sets the following statewide goals: o Wyoming to become national leader in education; o Ensure all students leave Wyoming schools ready for careers and college; o Recognize student growth, and to increase that growth; o Improve teacher, school and district leader quality; o Maximize efficiency in Wyoming education; o Increase credibility and support for Wyoming schools. Identifies key evaluation components to include: o Achievement (meeting state standards); o Readiness (graduates ready for success); o Growth (credit for students progressing academically); o Equity (low performing and at-risk students); o Inclusion and attribution (ensure students are counted for the appropriate school). Measurement of performance to determine the single score include the following: o PAWS (all we have) for a statewide summative: Reading and math in grades 3-8; Science in grades 4 and 8; Writing in grades 3, 5, 7. o EXPLORE/ACT/COMPASS: In grades 9 (EXPLORE), 10 (EXPLORE), 11 (ACT) and 12 (COMPASS). Requires the State Board to set target performance levels for schools. Establishes a range of single school level performance level scores as follows: o Exceeding expectations; o Meeting expectations; o Partially meeting expectations; o Not meeting expectations. Requires two tiers of review for a school that disagrees with its performance score, including review by the professional judgment panel and the State Board. Requires in-depth and technical reporting which allows aggregation and disaggregation of individual student information. Requires progressive technical support be offered to schools to improve performance, beginning in the 2013-2014 school year. Requires the State Board to present an action plan for system implementation to the Select Committee by October 5, 2012. Requires administration of a uniform benchmark adaptive assessment separate from the accountability system; requires administration once in first grade and in grades 2 through 8 twice annually and for extended day and summer school participants. Provides for the continued operation of the Select and the Advisory Committees for an additional two years and allows for the continued study of several areas, including: o Additional measures of assessment and data elements at the secondary; o Additional measures of college readiness; o Teacher and school district leadership performance evaluation and accountability; o Incorporation of end of course assessments; o Exploration of the state supports and capacity building necessary to improve student performance and allow implementation of the state system of supports in SY2013-2014. Comments: Multiple reports required.