SBE Approves Alternative School Schedules, Discusses Standard Review Process

The Wyoming State Board of Education at their recent meeting honored Wyoming’s 2022 Teacher of the Year Brittney Montgomery and Aaron Kruger, one of two 2021 Milken Award winners. The board also discussed the process used for the development and revision of state standards. The committee tasked with reviewing the current process provided its recommendations for changes to the full board. Based on public comments, the committee had focused its work on the “load” of the standards on teachers and students. As part of the Chapter 10 Wyoming Content and Performance Standards rules, the board board approved Math and Science performance standards.

District applications for alternative school schedules also were reviewed by the SBE. Schools planning less than 175 student days must apply and obtain approval from the state board and must meet the minimum number of pupil-teacher contact hours established by the state board. Districts may apply to be on an alternative schedule for a one or two year term.

The board approved alternative schedule applications from nine districts for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. In addition, five districts provided notice to the state board of the districts’ intent to continue on their current alternative schedules for the 2022-23 school year. The board provided clarification that the board approves alternative schedules addressing the number of days of operation. The state board does not approve school calendars dealing with specific start and end dates or student vacation days. Districts have until May 1, 2022 to submit alternative schedule applications for the 2022/23 school year.