JOINT EDUCATION INTERIM COMMITTEE

Standard Budget:   $50,000.00

Priority #: 1 University of Wyoming, College of Education

The Committee will study possible methods to elevate the University of Wyoming’s College of Education to the status of a preeminent college in professional educator preparation, a goal identified by the University’s Board of Trustees in November of 2014.  The Committee will receive information from the University as it develops an implementation plan for the initiative.  This study will focus on K-16 program evaluation with an emphasis on quality of training for teachers and educational leadership.

Priority #: 2 College and Career Readiness

The Committee will study college and career readiness and study mechanisms to create incentives that will increase student participation in programs that will provide them with both college and career readiness in career technical occupations.

Priority #: 3 School Safety and Security

The Committee will continue review and study of school safety and security.

Priority #: 4 Early Childhood Programs

The Committee will continue study of early childhood programs and the possibility of streamlining efforts related to early childhood education.  Related to this work, the Committee will receive a report from the Department of Family Services required by 2014 Wyo. Sess. Laws, Ch. 26, Section 335.  The report is required to include information on coordination of the state’s efforts in this area and to provide addition information related to the grant program established under 2014 law.

Priority #: 5 Wyoming Accountability in Education Act

The Committee will study the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act (WAEA) in coordination with the Select Committee on Statewide Education Accountability.  The Committee and the Select Committee may need to conduct a join meeting to study refinement of Phase I and creation of Phase II as required under the WAEA. This study will include consideration of a system to account for the performance of alternative schools and the needs for the statewide student assessment system.

Priority #: 6 Hathaway Scholarship Administration

The Committee will study administration of the Hathaway Scholarship Program.  Related to this work, the Committee will receive a report from the Department of Education on mechanisms to incentivize completion of the success curriculum and the possibility of utilizing a weighted grade point average.

Priority #: 7 High School Completion

The Committee will study completion rates for twelfth grade students and the possibility of creating a mechanism to account for students that receive a high school equivalency certificate after attending a Wyoming public high school.

Priority #: 8  Recreational Mill Levies

The Committee will conduct a general study of recreational mill levies and the equity of these levies between communities.  The Committee will consider methods to mitigate the impacts of assessed valuation differences and associated unfair results.

Priority #:  9  Educational Workforce Skills Gap

The Committee will focus on STEM education, transitions from K-12, community colleges' workforce training and the U.W. Tennessee Model.

Priority #:  10 Advanced Placement Classes in Computer Science

The Committee will concentrate its study on workforce development and preparation.

Priority #: 11 Coordination of Committees

The Committee requests Council authorize the use of funds to allow members of the Joint Education Interim Committee to attend the meetings of the Select Committee on Statewide Education Accountability and the Select Committee for School Finance Recalibration over the course of the 2015 interim.