State education program.

WORKING DRAFT
2014
STATE OF
WYOMING
14LSO-0124.E1

SENATE FILE
NO.
SF0012

State education program.

Sponsored by:
Select Committee on Statewide Education Accountability

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to
the required state education program; clarifying authority of the
state, through the
state board of education
and school districts,
in prescribing
the state education program and the
uniform standards implementing the state education program;
and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section

1.

W.S.

21
‑
2
‑
304(a)(iii)(
intro
)
and 21
‑
9
‑
101(a) are
amended to read:

21
‑
2
‑
304.

Duties of the state board of education.

(a)

The state board of education shall:

(iii)

By rule and regulation and in consultation and coordination with local school districts, prescribe uniform student content and performance standards for the common core of knowledge and the common core of skills specified under W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
101(b), and promulgate uniform standards for programs addressing the special needs of student populations specified under W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
101(c) that ensure these student populations are provided the opportunity to learn the common core knowledge and skills as prescribed by the uniform student content and performance standards pursuant to this paragraph. Student content and performance standards prescribed under this paragraph shall include standards for graduation from any high school within any school district of this state and shall describe required performance levels in order to achieve proficiency of the common core of knowledge and common core of skills prescribed under W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
101(b). The ability to prescribe content and performance standards shall not be construed to give the state board of education the authority to prescribe textbooks or curriculum which the state board is hereby forbidden to do
, nor shall the state board
have the authority to commit the state to

federal oversight and regulation
. Graduation standards imposed under this paragraph shall require the successful
completion of the following components, as evidenced by passing grades or by the successful performance on competency
-
based equivalency examinations:

21
‑
9
‑
101.

Educational programs for schools; standards; core of knowledge and skills; special needs programs; class size requirements; cocurricular activities.

(a)

The board of trustees of each school district within the state shall cause the schools under its jurisdiction to provide an educational program in accordance with uniform standards defined under this section and rules and regulations promulgated by the state board of education pursuant to W.S. 21
‑
2
‑
304(a).

The development and implementation of the
uniform standards
is the responsibility of the state board in consultation with school districts, and shall not require approval by or oversight of the federal government.

Section 2.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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SF0012