K-12 education

The legislature’s interim Education Committee failed to pass a draft bill that would have created a statewide mental health policy for K-12 schools. But one lawmaker is already trying to figure out ways to continue the work.

The plan is effect from this year until 2027, which marks the end of Megan Degenfelder's first term. Attracting and retaining teachers, transparency, and reflecting the needs of Wyoming's educational situation are also of the document. But the leaders of Wyoming Education Association and the Wyoming School Boards Association say they had no input in drafting it.

Earlier this week, Governor Mark Gordon’s Reimagining and Innovating the Delivery of Education Advisory, group (RIDE), released its final report. It provides recommendations on how to improve the state’s education system. Wyoming Public Radio’s Hugh Cook spoke with John Masters, the group’s chairman.

The survey was administered jointly by the University of Wyoming College of Education and the Wyoming Education Association. Factors such as teacher pay, the effects and demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, student assessments, and mental health concerns were some of the major reasons why teachers have considered leaving the profession.

Recently the governor's K-12 education advisory group called Reimaging and Innovating the Delivery of Education (RIDE), provided some responses that some 7-thousand Wyomingites provided about the strengths of Wyoming's education system. John Masters is the chairman of the group and he joined Wyoming Public Radio's Bob Beck to discuss what they heard.

The Wyoming Senate has given final approval to a bill that puts limitations on teaching critical race theory in schools.

The Wyoming Senate has started working on a bill that originally attempted to limit any teaching that resembled Critical Race Theory.

The Wyoming Legislature is shifting into budget mode as it begins work on its $2.8 billion budget. The budget is about $200 million less than the one it approved two years ago, but it also benefits from the federal American Rescue Plan or ARPA money that state lawmakers have used to strategically replace some cuts and invest for the future.

A bill banning the teaching of critical race theory had different results in the Wyoming House and Senate. A bill fell five votes short of the necessary two-thirds required for introduction in the House, but easily gained approval in the Senate.

Last week, the Hot Springs County School District #1 in Thermopolis posted a picture of fifth and sixth graders using air rifles in a school gym on their Facebook page. The picture was from an air rifle unit, which is part of the district's physical education curriculum.