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

WYOMING EDUCATOR SPOTLIGHT

Daniel Greenwood, Kaitlyn Larson, Laura Sanches, and Lesley Urasky Secondary Science Teachers, Carbon County School District #2 (CCSD #2) The secondary science teachers in Carbon County School District #2 have spent two years creating digital science labs to support all students in gaining access to critical and rigorous science experiences. They presented their ideas at an international conference in Philadelphia over the summer and just made the national NGSS Now newsletter with their digital labs process guide. These four teachers have been doing awesome work to provide accessible science instruction, even when students are absent. As schools are experiencing record numbers of absent students in schools across the country, a?collaborative team from University of Wyoming, CCSD #2, and the WDE have developed a guide to support others in creating relevant digital science labs for all students. "This group of teachers has been working hard over the last two years to create a solution around persistent challenges they have seen in their context. They have taken the initiative to share this work beyond their own district in the hopes that others might benefit as well." ? Martha Inouye, research scientist and K?12 science PD specialist, University of Wyoming ? 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 WDE is seeking public comment on the proposed Wyoming State Plan for the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). The act provides federal funding for secondary and postsecondary career and technical education in Wyoming. See the media release for more information about meeting dates and to submit input.?

The WDE949 transcript review is January 8-26.? Districts should review the credits earned reports for traditional and alternative schools on the Accountability Confidential site and make necessary corrections to transcripts. Contact Brian Wuerth at [email protected] if the number of credits required to graduate were misreported on the 2022 WDE608.

COMMUNICATIONS

UW College of Education is offering a free, asynchronous online course designed to educate individuals about the role and significance of becoming Career and Technical Education teachers. It is open to non-degree seeking students and no prerequisites are required. There will be stipends for college and school district teachers in each of the community college districts, so students have a local connection. Learn more here.

UW College of Education and the UW Trustees Education Initiative have announced that the Wyoming Teacher Mentor Corps is accepting nominations until January 26. The group seeks teachers who are committed to their own professional growth and development, and the growth and development of other professional educators. Learn more and submit a nomination here.

FINANCE

Governor Gordon has issued new mileage rates effective January 1, 2024, for state employees. The mileage rates for reimbursing state employees for use of personal vehicles upon state business is 67 cents a mile.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

On January 28, the Wyoming Transcript Center will modify its data retention configuration. After the configuration change, the data retention period for all files in the ?receive archive? folder will be 45 days. For all files in the ?receive? folder, it will be 30 days. When the age of the files exceeds the age of the retention periods, they will be purged. On January 28, all files older than 45 days will no longer be available.

Confidential aggregated federal graduation rates will be available to districts on the Accountability Confidential site on January 16.? Data will be embargoed until the public release at 11 a.m., January 24.

The WDE is partnering with Branching Minds to support districts in implementing and sustaining a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) that is efficient, effective, and equitable. Districts can find more about opting-in here. Details about virtual opportunities, both live and on-demand, for interested districts to learn more and ask questions will follow.

SCHOOL SUPPORT

The Wyoming Summer Food Service program for kids offered through the WDE serves thousands of meals each summer to Wyoming children and teens. Last year, Wyoming Summer Food Service Program sites provided 212,155 meals and snacks to children and teenagers throughout Wyoming. Visit here to learn more about the Summer Food Service Program and how to become a sponsor.

Periodic Expenditure Reports (PERs) for the ESSA and ARP ESSER grants for the period ending Dec. 31, 2023 are due by January 15. If a district is behind on PERs, reimbursement requests will not be processed until an approved PER is in place. For more information, contact Diana Thompson at [email protected].?

The Embrace Literacy All Year Long webinar series is now asynchronous. Register on the WYO PD Portal and access course material via the Canvas link provided. A full schedule of sessions and topics is available on the portal as well.??

K-3 Reading Assessment and Intervention office hours will be held twice monthly through June. See the?WYO PD Portal for a schedule of topics, dates, and past recordings. For more information contact Kim Lane at [email protected].

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Special Education Programs is offering a five session Community of Practice that supports teachers implementing classroom structures that improve student functional and behavioral outcomes. Sessions run January through March. Register here.?

STANDARDS & ASSESSMENT

Applications are being accepted for high school juniors and seniors in the graduating class of 2024 and 2025 to represent Wyoming at the 2024 National Youth Science Camp. Two students will be selected to attend the all-expenses-paid program held June 9-July 20, 2024. Find more information here, and apply here.?

The WY-TOPP Winter Interim Window is open until Thursday, February 1. These optional Interims include ELA and math assessments for students in grades 3-10 and science for students in grades 4, 8, and 10.

The ACCESS for ELLs Assessment Window is open Tuesday, January 23? through Friday, March 1. All English Learners (EL), in Kindergarten through grade 12 must take the ACCESS for ELLs or the ALT ACCESS for ELLs English Language Proficiency Assessment annually to fulfill the federal and state requirement of measuring English Learners? progress. More information is available on the WIDA Portal.

The Assessment Team is hosting monthly office hours to provide an open forum for discussion, questions, and information sharing. Join via Zoom from 9:00-9:30 a.m., the second Monday of the month, or call 346-248-7799. Meeting ID: 960 2839 5531.