Tagged: Steve Harshman

The Wyoming House is wrapping up work on an enormous education accountability bill.  During second reading debate on the bill, Casper Republican Steve Harshman added a massive amendment that clarifies a number of standards lawmakers want students to meet including writing.  Harshman says it also notes that the ACT will be the way the state will track students who are high school juniors and, overall,he says the bill has clear goals.

“It clearly lines out why are we testing, but we also want a readiness standard we want to say this is the standard on the ACT test or the Explorer Test where we want kids to be at,” says Harshman. “The other part will be an achievement part on how many are proficient or at proficient, we currently do that.  And the other part will be growth.”

A bill that funds the construction of new schools in the state has received final approval in the Wyoming House of Representatives.  This despite an effort by the House Education Committee Chairman to remove some money from the bill.  Lingle Republican Matt Teeters complained that lawmakers are building some schools too big and have obligated too many schools to be built.

“We have traditionally spent approximately  $200 million dollars per year for a total of 400 million in these past few years in the biennium and this single budget spends and obligates around $600-million dollars.”

The Wyoming House of Representatives has defeated a bill that would have changed the state retirement system.  Cheyenne Republican Bryan Pedersen wanted those hired after July first 2014 to be entered into a 401K style retirement plan versus the current defined benefit plan. 

The reason for the defeat is because Pedersen believes the current state plan will run out of money. 

However, opponents questioned Pedersen’s numbers and his timing, and Casper Republican Steve Harshman says it’s too big of a change in a short budget session.

An effort to enhance graduation requirements has failed.  Lingle Republican Matt Teeters, who chairs the House Education Committee, offered a bill that would have added some graduation requirements for those in high school.

“This bill would suggest that we would have four years of math and four years of science added to those requirements.  Just the fact that of having that student enrolled in those extra classes  their senior year, prevents that institutional loss that we see when seniors take their senior year off.”