JOINT EDUCATION INTERIM COMMITTEE

Standard Budget:     $32,500.00

Priority #: 1     Monitoring of the education resource block grant model.

Wyoming Statute 21-13-309(u) requires components of the education resource block grant model be monitored between periods of model recalibration to make any necessary adjustment.  The Committee will receive reports and information from the legislative service office in reference to this statutory mandate and report recommendations to the Joint Appropriations Committee by October 15, 2013.

Priority #: 2     Educational reporting.

The Committee will receive multiple reports from the Wyoming Department of Education required by statute and session law.  In addition, the department will report recommendations for consolidation of educational reporting requirements imposed upon local school districts as required by 2013 Wyo. Sess. Laws, House Enrolled Act 0045, Section 338 by November 1, 2013.

Priority #: 3     Early childhood education.

The Committee will receive reports from appropriate state and district officials regarding early childhood education.  Information will include current efforts in the area of early childhood education and possible mechanisms to streamline, consolidate and improve efforts in this area.

Priority #: 4     Alternative learning environments.

The Committee will receive reports and recommendations related to distance learning and the current operation of programs related to distance education and on-line learning in the state.  In addition, the Committee will receive reports and recommendations related to charter and alternative schools in Wyoming and the possibility of expanding the opportunity for operation of such programs.  Study will include facility related implications.

Priority #: 5     Hathaway scholarship program.

The Committee will receive reports and recommendations regarding the possibility of increasing scholarship awards, decreasing remediation rates, reviewing continued eligibility requirements, improving student accountability and modification of the success curriculum.  Study shall include recommendations and fiscal analysis.

Priority #: 6     School resource officers and school safety implications.

The Committee will receive reports and recommendations from Governor Mead's Office and the task force established by the executive branch to study school resource officers and school safety.

Priority #: 7     Suicide prevention and the Jason Flatt Act.

The Committee will receive reports and recommendation related to suicide prevention. Specifically, the Committee will consider the "Jason Flatt Act" and the possibility of its adoption in Wyoming at no additional cost to the State.  [Modified by Management Council]

Priority #: 8     School bus safety.

The Committee will receive reports and recommendations from state agencies related to school bus safety.  Study will include exploration of mechanisms to minimize traffic violations that impact student and school bus safety.

Priority #: 9     Education Information Technology.

The Committee will receive reports and recommendations related to educational information technology and the efforts of the chief information officer and the department of enterprise technology services as established by 2012 Wyo. Sess. Laws, Chapter 30 and Chapter 26, Section 326.  Specifically, the Committee will receive reports and recommendations from the chief information officer and the department of education on maintenance and collection of educational data.

Priority #: 10     State Board of Education.

The Committee will receive reports and recommendations from the state board of education on possible mechanisms to increase communication between the state board, the legislature and members of the public. Recommendation may include coordination of meeting schedules to ensure members can attend each other's meetings and variation of structure utilized for appointment of state board members.

Priority #: 11     Educational opportunities for Wyoming's Native American population.

The Committee will meet with jointly with the Select Committee on Tribal Relations to receive reports and recommendations related to the education of the Native American population and mechanisms to increase the academic success of this population.

Priority #: 12     Coordination with Education Accountability.

2012 SF 002 Section 1, footnote 3, appropriated $25,000 to allow members of the Education Committee to attend meetings of the Select Committee on Statewide Education Accountability during the 2012 interim. Council is asked to authorize the use of the remaining balance of that appropriation ($13,962) to allow members of the Education Committee to attend meetings of the Select Committee during the 2013 interim. [Use of remaining funds approved by Management Council]

Priority #  13 Agency Budget Review

The Committee will review proposed 2%, 4% and 6% budget cuts as submitted by the supervised agencies designated for the Committee's review last interim. [Study added by Management Council]