Joint Education Interim Committee minutes for the meeting of July 15, 2004.

M I N U T E S

Joint Education Interim Committee

302 State Capitol Building July 15, 2004

Cheyenne, Wyoming

PRESENT: Senator Henry H.R. "Hank" Coe and Representative Jeff Wasserburger, Cochairmen;

Senators Jim Anderson, Larry Caller, Robert Peck and Kathryn Sessions;

Representatives Kurt Bucholz, Becket Hinckley, Tom Lockhart, Del McOmie, Ann Robinson, Mark Semlek and Jane Wostenberg.

Other Legislators in Attendance: Senator Rae Lynn Job.

Legislative Service Office: Dave Nelson and Mary Byrnes.

Others Present: See attached Appendix A.

ABSENT: Representative Liz Gentile.

AGENDA: See attached Appendix B.

* * * * *

The Joint Education Interim Committee convened at 3:15 p.m.

LSO School Finance Budget Estimation Process.

Mary Byrnes, LSO, provided Committee members a brief description of elements comprising the education block grant guarantee estimation process, which is used to assist the Legislature in arriving at fiscal and policy decisions regarding the school foundation program. Materials distributed which accompanied the discussion are attached at Appendix "C."

LSO fiscal year 2005 estimates provided members of the Legislature at the conclusion of the 2004 Budget Session misidentified several small schools qualifying for a small school adjustment, which resulted in an overstatement of dollars generated under this adjustment by roughly $3.3 million. The estimate did not account for schools which were closed or combined during school year 2004. The estimation process will be modified to account for the operational status of each school. Discussion generated by Senator Anderson resulted in clarification that LSO estimates are assembled primarily for the Legislature and are not meant to provide precise information for school district budgeting purposes.

Statewide Education Program.

In accordance with W.S. 21‑2‑304(c) and pursuant to 2004 Laws, Chapter 108, Section 701, the State Board of Education provided Committee members with a report on the evaluation and review of the uniformity and quality of the educational program standards imposed by law. On behalf of the State Board, Deputy State Superintendent Annette Bohling presented the report, a copy of which is attached at Appendix "D."

The submitted report provided background on the development of education standards, the 2002-2003 standards revision process, and the involvement of state citizens during the entire development and revision process. The report enumerates action taken by the State Board and Department of Education to ensure the statewide educational program, as reflected in educational standards and high school graduation requirements, is appropriate in depth and breadth of content and sufficiently reflects current educational demands.

Student Assessment/Accountability.

Assessment. Deputy State Superintendent Annette Bohling, Dr. William Donkersgoed, State NAEP Director, Dr. Cheryl Schroeder, State Standards Coordinator, and Christine Steele, Assessment and Accountability Coordinator, addressed Committee members on 2003-2004 WyCAS results, 2003 State NAEP results and five-year trends and comparisons. The results are documented in attached Appendix "E."

With respect to future statewide student assessment and in accordance with law, the Department of Education and the Statewide Task Force on Student Assessment and Accountability developed an RFP for provision of a statewide assessment. In June of this year, the Department and the Task Force met to review proposals submitted in response to the RFP and based upon this work, the Department is currently negotiating a contract for the assessment. The proposal provides for a comprehensive assessment which overtime, will provide three components including end-of-the-year assessments, formative assessments and year-round assessments.

Senator Sessions attended the June work sessions and congratulated the State Superintendent, Department of Education and Task Force members for their successful work efforts. Task Force members in attendance included Lynn Budd and Rob Hurless, CoChairs, Brent Young, State Board Chair, Senator Job and CoChair Wasserburger. On behalf of the Task Force, Lynn Budd reported the joint effort resulted in a good product for the state and in accordance with its report made to the Committee last year, the Task Force approved the end-of-the-year summative assessment with formative assessments for writing, and additionally supported Department efforts for further development of the year-round assessment. Dr. Bohling added the effort, when completed, will be detailed in a report and presented to the Committee.

Accountability. Deputy State Superintendent Bohling summarized the state accountability system established pursuant to requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, of which assessment and accountability, as measured through AYP (adequate yearly progress), are cornerstones. An explanation was provided on the various indicators used in computing AYP and in making AYP-related determinations, as detailed in attached Appendix "E." The process is complicated by Wyoming's small population. State AYP determinations will be available mid-August.

Adjournment

CoChairs Coe and Wasserburger adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

____________________________ _________________________________

Senator Henry H.R. "Hank" Coe, Representative Jeff Wasserburger,

Committee CoChair Committee CoChair