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.