Wyoming Department of Education

A new report shows that primary and secondary school students in Wyoming made better progress than students from other states during the pandemic months.

The summer food program employs 11 people funded by the Northern Arapaho tribe and the Wyoming Department of Education.

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.

The federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is administered by the Wyoming Department of Education and provides free meals for kids and teens who may not otherwise have regular access to food outside of the school year. The program saw a significant increase in the number of meals provided last year due to the pandemic.

Wyoming's graduation rates continue to rise. There has been modest growth for eight straight years and now it stands at 82.4 percent.

Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow is leaving the state. Her plan is to take on the same role in Virginia, joining that state's soon-to-be governor in his efforts to "lead on the front lines of educational transformation in this country."

Wyoming has the highest suicide rate in the nation, at more than twice the national average, and nationally, suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents. Advocates say suicide prevention education is a way to address the problem.

Suicide prevention education can offer hope and concrete strategies to help people prevent suicide among their friends and family members. Advocates argue that it should be offered in schools. Many policymakers agree, theoretically, but actually getting suicide prevention education into schools is complicated.

The state of Wyoming will receive more than $3 million to go towards education as part of COVID-19 relief funds. The Wyoming Department of Education recently submitted its plan on how that money will be used.

Last summer, state officials cautioned school districts across the state to prepare for budget cuts. But in a turn of events, lawmakers failed to agree on the specifics of a bill that would have cut $135 million from schools over three years. Wyoming Public Radio's Catherine Wheeler looked into how districts chose to handle the dilemma—to move ahead with cuts or stay where they are.