Study of K-12 education program.

23LSO-0460
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0460
ENGROSSED
3.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0132

Study of K-12 education program.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Ellis and Representative(s) Andrew, Neiman and Trujillo

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to education; modifying the duties of the state board of education as specified; requiring a study; requiring reporting; requiring adoption of graduation standards as specified; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 21
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304(a) by creating a new paragraph (viii) is amended to read:

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304.

Duties of the state board of education.

(a)

The state board of education shall:

(viii)

Publish the uniform student content and performance standards for the common core of knowledge and the common core of skills specified under W.S. 21
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101(b), adopted by the state board pursuant to paragraph (iii) of this subsection, in a manner that allows school districts to identify all standards across all content areas by grade level.

Section 2.

(a)

The state superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the state board of education and local school districts, shall study the common core of knowledge and skills contained in W.S. 21
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101(b) and the uniform student content and performance standards promulgated pursuant to W.S. 21
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304(a)(iii), to include, at a minimum, the following:

(i)

Examination of the common core of knowledge and skills to ensure all students are provided with the opportunity to acquire sufficient knowledge and skills, at a minimum, to enter the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges, to prepare students for the job market or post secondary career and technical training and to achieve the general purposes of education that equips students for their role as a citizen, and participant in the political system and to have the opportunity to compete both intellectually and economically in society;

(ii)

Consideration of elimination, addition and modification of the common core of knowledge and skills contained in W.S. 21
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101(b), including but not limited to consideration of targeting specific grade levels as opposed to the current structure that includes all common core of knowledge and skills across all grades.

(b)

The state superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the state board of education and local school districts, may study the common core of knowledge and skills contained in W.S. 21
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101(b) and the uniform student content and performance standards promulgated pursuant to W.S. 21
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304(a)(iii), to include, at a minimum, the following:

(i)

Examination of the number of uniform student content and performance standards promulgated by the state board, including consideration of the practical implications for the teaching profession when considering the collective number of standards across all common core of knowledge and skills by grade level;

(ii)

Examination of the relationship between the common core of knowledge and skills, the uniform student content and performance standards, the statewide assessments administered pursuant to W.S. 21
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304(a)(iv) and (v), district assessments administered pursuant to W.S. 21
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110(a)(xxiv) and (xxxiv), district accreditation administered pursuant to W.S. 21
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304(a)(ii) and the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act administered pursuant to W.S. 21
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202(a)(i), 21
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204 and 21
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304(a)(ii) and (vi). The state superintendent may consider mechanisms to better align and minimize the requirements associated with the statewide assessments, district assessments, district accreditation and the accountability system;

(iii)

Examination of the relationship between the common core of knowledge and skills, the uniform student content and performance standards and the uniform graduation standards to be prescribed by the state board under W.S. 21
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304(a)(iii);

(iv)

A proposed schedule for implementation of any recommended modifications of statutory directives in response to the study allowed by this subsection and necessary enabling legislation for consideration during the 2024 budget session.

(c)

Not later than November 1, 2023, the state superintendent of public instruction shall report the findings and recommendations from the study required by subsection (a) of this section and permitted by subsection (b) of this section to the joint education interim committee.

(d)

Based upon the report and recommendations submitted pursuant to subsections (a) through (c) of this section, the joint education interim committee shall report its findings, including necessary enabling legislation to the legislature for consideration during the 2024 budget session.

Section 3.

There is appropriated seventy-two thousand dollars ($72,000.00) from the public school foundation program account to the department of education for the period beginning on the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2024. This appropriation shall be used to complete the study and report required and allowed by the state superintendent of public instruction by section 2 of this act. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation on June 30, 2024 shall revert as provided by law. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation shall not be included in the standard budget for the department of education for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

Section 4.

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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SF0132