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Wyoming2015Enacted

HB0159

Elimination of the Separate Statewide Writing Assessment

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This law removes the requirement for a separate statewide writing test in Wyoming public schools.

What it does

  • Eliminates the separate statewide student writing assessment from the state's testing system.
  • Requires the state board of education, the state superintendent, and the department of education to stop developing or administering a separate writing assessment.
  • Amends the law so that school performance indicators include student academic achievement in reading, mathematics, and science.
  • Allows for different types of test questions, such as open response tasks, for the remaining assessments.
  • Takes effect immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law.

Who it affects

  • Public school students in Wyoming who previously took the separate writing test.
  • The Wyoming State Board of Education.
  • The Wyoming Department of Education.
  • Local school districts in Wyoming.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how schools will replace the writing test with other measures of writing skills.
  • The bill does not detail the specific timeline for schools to stop using the old writing test results for grading.

Plain language

Terms to know

Statewide assessment system
A set of tests given to students across the state to measure school and student performance.
Writing and language assessment
A specific test that measures a student's ability to write and use language, which is being removed as a separate test.
Open response tasks
Test questions where students must write their own answers instead of choosing from a list.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Read the official summary

Summary for LSO115 Bill No.: HB0159 Effective : 3/2/2015 LSO No.: 15LSO-0096 Enrolled Act No.: HEA 50 Chapter No.: 99 Prime Sponsor: Throne Catch Title: Education-writing assessment. Subject: Elimination of the separate statewide writing assessment. Summary/Major Elements: Prior to this bill, a separate writing assessment was required to be administered as a part of the statewide student assessment system, but was not required for compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind Act. This bill eliminates the separate statewide student writing assessment. This bill has an effective immediately date. Comments: Amends a major program: Statewide student assessment. The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 7, 4:12 AM

Couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

5 roll calls

S 3rd Reading:Passed 16-14-0-0-02015-02-24 · Senate16 yes 14 no
Education:Recommend Do Pass 4-1-0-0-02015-02-18 · Senate4 yes 1 no
H 3rd Reading:Passed 53-6-1-0-02015-02-05 · House53 yes 6 no
Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-02015-01-30 · House7 yes 0 no
Education:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-02015-01-29 · House9 yes 0 no

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Assigned Chapter NumberLSO
  2. Governor Signed HEA No. 0050 Governor
  3. S President Signed HEA No. 0050Senate
  4. H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0050House
  5. Assigned Number HEA No. 0050LSO
  6. S 3rd Reading:Passed 16-14-0-0-0Senate
  7. S 2nd Reading:PassedSenate
  8. S COW:PassedSenate
  9. S Placed on General FileSenate
  10. Education:Recommend Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0Senate
  11. S Introduced and Referred to S04 - EducationSenate
  12. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  13. H 3rd Reading:Passed 53-6-1-0-0House
  14. H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
  15. H COW:PassedHouse
  16. H Placed on General FileHouse
  17. Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0House
  18. H COW:Rerefer to H02 - AppropriationsHouse
  19. H Placed on General FileHouse
  20. Education:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0House