Wyoming Receives Federal Waiver From Assessment and Accountability Requirements

The U.S. Department of Education granted Wyoming a waiver Friday from certain federal assessment and accountability requirements in light of the widespread school closures due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. According to the Wyoming Department of Education, as a result of the waiver, Wyoming students will not take the WY-TOPP statewide assessment this spring, and no formal accountability determinations will be made for the 2019-20 school year.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jillian Balow said in a new release, that U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and her team responded to the waiver request within hours. Balow added that the Wyoming Department of Education has already begun to evaluate the impacts of receiving the waiver and is working quickly and carefully to chart a path forward.

President Donald Trump announced the availability of waivers Friday morning and information was immediately sent to states on the waiver submission process. The Wyoming Department of Education will take public comment on the waiver through April 20, 2020. Comments can be submitted through an online form here:  https://edu.wyoming.gov/blog/2020/03/20/public-comment-on-esea-waiver/

Or you can send your comment by mail to Wyoming Department of Education Attn: Kari Eakins 122 West 25th Street Suite E200 Cheyenne, WY 82002.