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24LSO-0203
2024
STATE OF WYOMING
24LSO-0203
Numbered
2.0
SENATE FILE NO. SF0082
Summer vacation preservation act.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Brennan, French and Rothfuss and Representative(s) Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Olsen, Penn, Rodriguez-Williams, Slagle and Trujillo
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to education; modifying the duties of the state board of education in approval of alternative scheduling for a school year; reducing the minimum number of class days required for public schools; reducing the number of professional development days for public schools as specified; requiring the school year to begin after Labor Day and recess prior to Memorial Day except as specified; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
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W.S. 21
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2
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304(b)(viii), 21
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4
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301 and 21
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13-307(a)(ii)(intro) are amended to read:
21
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2
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304.
Duties of the state board of education.
(b)
In addition to subsection (a) of this section and any other duties assigned to it by law, the state board shall:
(viii)
Approve or disapprove alternative scheduling for school districts requesting
to commence a school year before Labor Day, to recess a school year after Memorial Day or
to operate for fewer than
one hundred seventy
‑
five (175)
one hundred sixty
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five (165)
days in
a
school year, but no schedule shall be approved which reduces the minimum pupil
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teacher contact time defined by the state board. The state board shall establish by rule for grades kindergarten through twelve (12) minimum pupil
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teacher contact time requirements, which may include instruction outside of the physical classroom through virtual education or other equivalent methods the state board deems appropriate;
21
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4
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301.
Schools to be free and accessible to all children; minimum school year.
Except as otherwise provided by law, the public schools of each school district in the state shall at all times be equally free and accessible to all children resident therein of five (5) years of age as of August 1, or September 15 if pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21
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3
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110(a)(xxxviii), of the year in which they may register in kindergarten as provided in W.S. 21
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4
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302(b) and under the age of twenty
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one (21), subject to regulations of the board of trustees.
Each school year shall commence after Labor Day and recess not later than Memorial Day in the immediately succeeding calendar year unless an alternative schedule has been approved by the state board.
Each school district shall operate its schools and its classes for a minimum of
one hundred seventy
‑
five (175)
one hundred sixty
‑
five (165)
days each school year unless an alternative schedule has been approved by the state board. Prior to submission of a proposed alternative schedule to the state board, the board of trustees shall hold at least two (2) advertised public meetings within the district, at which the board shall present the proposed alternative schedule and respond to public questions and comments. Any school district operating under an alternative schedule shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of that schedule in meeting the educational goals and purposes for which the schedule was adopted.
21
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13
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307.
Eligibility to share in distribution of money from foundation account; mandatory financial reporting.
(a)
Each district which meets the following requirements is eligible to share in the distribution of funds from the foundation account:
(ii)
Operated all schools for a term of at least
one hundred eighty
‑
five (185)
one hundred seventy days (170)
days or the number of days or equivalent hours authorized under an alternative schedule approved by the state board during the previous school year.
If the school term of any school in a district was less than
one hundred eighty
‑
five (185)
one hundred seventy days (170)
days or less than the total number of days authorized under an alternative schedule approved by the state board, the amount allotted per average daily membership (ADM) under W.S. 21
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13
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309 for the school shall be in proportion to the length of the term the school actually operated, unless caused by closures of schools:
Section 2.
The modifications to the school year and operation days of schools contained in section 1 of this act shall be effective school year 2025
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2026 and each school year thereafter.
Section 3.
This act is effective July 1, 2025
.
(END)
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SF0082