Update from the Wyoming Department of Education  |  view online |  website

WYOMING EDUCATOR SPOTLIGHT

Wade Moore Ten Sleep K-12 Ten Sleep, Wyoming Wade is one of those teacher's that his students will be talking about 30 years from now. He makes every student feel welcome and a part of his world. He just clicks with them. Wade has taught in Ten Sleep for five years and in that time he has helped our students' state scores soar. He teaches 6th grade and takes his students annually to Teton Science School. He not only helps them fundraise for this, giving up his spare time, but he also makes the trip memorable. Last year he choose to stay an extra day to take the kids through the Military museum in Dubois. For many this was the first time experiencing the museum. He arranged for the class to stay in the gym at Dubois for a night and slept right on the floor with them. My daughter will forever remember the memories of those few days. Wade also stepped in to help coach middle school volleyball. He brings a whole new energy to the team. As a parent I appreciate his kindness, his humor, and his knack for bringing the best out of his students. As a peer I appreciate his love for life, the school, the kids, and his peers. Wade will jump in and help anywhere. – Neysha Lyman, Administrative Assistant Washakie County School District #2 Superintendent Degenfelder will recognize an educator each month in this newsletter. To nominate a educator to be featured, email Linda Finnerty at [email protected].

ACCOUNTABILITY

The fall student climate survey window will open from October 30–November 17. The survey is required for all alternative high schools as part of the School Climate Indicator in the alternative school accountability model. All schools that serve grades 6–12 are invited to participate as well. All schools that intend to participate must complete the Survey Participant Questionnaire Form by October 16. Learn more.

The Hathaway Scholarship Team provides monthly virtual orientations for new educators or educators wanting a refresher in Hathaway Scholarship content. Sign-up here.

COMMUNICATIONS

The WDE encourages educators to support youth in their schools to register for and complete the requirements of the Wyoming Congressional Award. This individualized, self-paced, and goal-driven program provides young adults with the framework they need to become well-rounded, healthy, civically engaged citizens. Learn more, here.

The WDE encourages educators to share information about the Daniels Scholarship Program with their students. The award covers a student’s full cost of attendance at partner schools, and up to $7,500 annually for schools outside of the partnership. Scholars also receive a laptop and support before, during, and after college. Applications must be submitted by October 15. Learn more. 

Superintendent Megan Degenfelder and the entire WDE congratulate two Wyoming schools named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Sagewood Elementary in Casper, and Southside Elementary in Powell were identified among the 353 schools honored. Both schools were recognized in the Exemplary High Performing Schools category. View the list here. 

The Wyoming Cancer Program’s 2023–24 Radon Video Contest is open for submissions from all Wyoming students in grades 9–12 until November 15. The videos will be used for educational outreach on social media and the Wyoming Cancer Program’s website. Learn more.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

The WDE595 Temporary School Closure data collection is open. Go to the Forms Inventory page. When school closures occur for any reason, a WDE595 must be submitted within two weeks of the occurrence.

The WDE949 and WDE950 (2022–23 Transcript collections) are due October 20.  Transcript data is used to verify graduation data and college, career, and military readiness used in the ESSA and WAEA accountability systems.

The WDE will host a K–12 Leaders Cyber Awareness Webinar on October 24, from 1 – 2 p.m. The webinar will concentrate on K–12 cyber threat statistics, risk and vulnerabilities, prevention training, cyber awareness, incident response, and remediation. Register here.

FINANCE

The Legislature receives information to monitor the cost pressures on the K–12 funding models in years between recalibrations and to determine the appropriateness of an inflationary adjustment called the external cost adjustment (ECA).The Joint Education Committee passed a motion to forward an ECA recommendation to the Joint Appropriations Committee (JAC) to increase funding by 21.852% for education materials, 14.669% for energy, 3.871% for professional staff, and 4.106% for non-professional staff. The JAC will make its own recommendation to the Governor and Legislature by November 1. The final ECA, if any, will be deliberated during the 2024 budget session.  

The WDE has notified the treasurer of each county in the state of the percentage proportion from the countywide six mill school levy to be allocated to each school district in their county. The distributions are published on the School Foundation page.  

The WDE, School Finance Data Advisory Committee, and Wyoming Association School Business Officials met to discuss the WDE100 and ways the organizations can support business managers with meaningful resources for budgeting and professional development. 

SCHOOL SUPPORT

ESSA Grants (Title Programs) and ESSER (Emergency Grants) Periodic Expense Reports (PERs) are due by October 15 for the period that ended on September 30, 2023. 

Reimbursement requests for expired 2021–22 funds must include confirmation that funds were obligated prior to the September 30 deadline. Funds can be drawn until December, and after all funds have been drawn, submit the final PER.  

No district employee salaries may be paid after September 30 out of the 2021-22 ESSA grants or ESSER II. For more information, contact Danielle Nether at [email protected] or Johanna Smith at [email protected].

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The Monitoring Team will be providing training to districts on compliant practices for out of district placements on the day before WASEA in Casper.  The training will be held on October 23rd from 1:00-4:30 pm. For more information, contact Sheila Thomalla, Monitoring Team Supervisor at [email protected].

On October 27–28 in Casper, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Team will host a Cued Speech and the Connection to Literacy training geared towards district and child development center staff who serve our students with hearing loss. Register here. 

The Vision Outreach Services Team will conduct a transdisciplinary play-based assessment in Lander on November 17. Contact Leslie Bechtel Van Orman at [email protected].

The Monitoring Team will host District Data Dive - District Report Card Overview on Monday October 16 from 2–3:30 p.m. Join here. Districts will review data for the 2022–23 SY and provide feedback prior to submission for the SPP/APR. Data concerns must be submitted to Susan Shipley, Special Education Systems Administrator Supervisor, by November 17. For more information, contact Sheila Thomalla, Monitoring Team Supervisor at [email protected].

Self-Assessment is open through December 1. Information will be in SPEDLink, under Collections: Self Assessment. For more information, contact Sarah Benefield, Monitoring Team Education Consultant at [email protected].

STANDARDS & ASSESSMENT

Nominations for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are open through January 8, 2024. Learn more.

The WDE seeks public comment on the One Percent Participation Waiver Request for the Alternate ELA, Math, and Science Assessments. Comments can be submitted online, or by mail, prior to 11:59 p.m., November 24. Learn more. 

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is offering free Indian Education for All courses for teachers beginning October 24. Contact Heather Bender at [email protected] to enroll.

UW's Wallop Civic Engagement Program has updated the K-12 Content Catalog. The 20 new multimedia packages align with the state Social Studies and ELA Standards.