Bill No.: SF0057                  Drafter:  TH

 

LSO No.:  12LSO-0140              Effective Date: March 21, 2012

 

Enrolled Act No.:  SEA0065

 

Chapter No.:       CH0101

 

Prime Sponsor:     Joint Education Interim Committee

 

Catch Title:       Education accountability.

 

Subject:            Wyoming Accountability in Education Act.

 

Summary/Major Elements:  This act:

 

·         Modifies the statewide assessment and accountability provisions of the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act;

 

·         Creates a comprehensive scheme for design and implementation of a statewide educational accountability system, with the 2011 legislation serving as the backdrop. 

 

·         Charges the State Board of Education with setting the policy and drafting the guiding business rules for assessment and accountability; 

 

·         Sets the following statewide goals:

o   Wyoming  to become national leader in education;

o   Ensure all students leave Wyoming schools ready for careers and college;

o   Recognize student growth, and to increase that growth;

o   Improve teacher, school and district leader quality;

o   Maximize efficiency in Wyoming education;

o   Increase credibility and support for Wyoming schools.

 

·         Identifies key evaluation components to include:

o   Achievement (meeting state standards);

o   Readiness (graduates ready for success);

o   Growth (credit for students progressing academically);

o   Equity (low performing and at-risk students);

o   Inclusion and attribution (ensure students are counted for the appropriate school).

 


 

·         Measurement of performance to determine the single score include the following:

o   PAWS (all we have) for a statewide summative:

§  Reading and math in grades 3-8;

§  Science in grades 4 and 8;

§  Writing in grades 3, 5, 7.

o   EXPLORE/ACT/COMPASS:

§  In grades 9 (EXPLORE), 10 (EXPLORE), 11 (ACT) and 12 (COMPASS).

 

·         Requires the State Board to set target performance levels for schools.   

 

·         Establishes a range of single school level performance  level scores as follows:

o   Exceeding expectations;

o   Meeting expectations;

o   Partially meeting expectations;

o   Not meeting expectations. 

 

·         Requires two tiers of review for a school that disagrees with its performance score, including review by the professional judgment panel and the State Board. 

 

·         Requires in-depth and technical reporting which allows aggregation and disaggregation of individual student information. 

 

·         Requires progressive technical support be offered to schools to improve performance, beginning in the 2013-2014 school year.

 

·         Requires the State Board to present an action plan for system implementation to the Select Committee by October 5, 2012.

 

·         Requires administration of a uniform benchmark adaptive assessment separate from the accountability system; requires administration once in first grade and in grades 2 through 8 twice annually and for extended day and summer school participants.

 


 

·         Provides for the continued operation of the Select and the Advisory Committees for an additional two years and allows for the continued study of several areas, including:

o   Additional measures of assessment and data elements at the secondary;

o   Additional measures of college readiness;  

o   Teacher and school district leadership performance evaluation and accountability;

o   Incorporation of end of course assessments;

o   Exploration of the state supports and capacity building necessary to improve student performance and allow implementation of the state system of supports in SY2013-2014.

 

Comments:

 

· Multiple reports required.