To begin, congratulations to all of the education professionals for the work you’ve done during this past school year! We at WEA will always be incredibly grateful for you - from transportation and food service to the classrooms and libraries, and everywhere in between. Thank you!
Joint Education Committee
This month, the Joint Education Committee held their first interim meeting of 2026 to discuss several topics.
- The Basket of Goods: A significant component of a full recalibration should include a review of the “basket of goods” or what it is that we teach our students. This review ensures that — given the rapid advancement in technology and subject matter — we are effectively preparing our students for tomorrow’s jobs, military readiness, trades schooling, or higher education. The committee is set to review the “basket of goods” and to contemplate whether all components should be generally applied to every grade band, as it is done now, or whether they should be applied differently.
- State Administration of Education: This was essentially a review of what each agency or department does for the K12 education in Wyoming: the State Board of Education (standards and curriculum), Professional Teaching Standards Board (licensure), and the Wyoming Department of Education (overall administration and data collection). Of concern was the proposal to move the State Board of Education under the power and purview of the Wyoming Department of Education. Given the recent actions in what should be a non-partisan and administrative role, a move like this move may have consequences impacting curriculum and standards across the state, such as politicizing civics education in a way that could be weaponized against teachers.
- K12 Discipline: The committee reviewed the student discipline bill that was proposed last year. WEA gave testimony that there were significant concerns with it but recognized that many of our education staff are dealing with an increase and severity of student behaviors. The committee will convene a working group led by Sen. Chris Rothfuss to assess what legislative action should be taken, if any. WEA will be part of this group, so contact WEA’s Government Relations Director Tate Mullen with any input.
- Artificial Intelligence: The discussion focused on what the role of AI should be in public education both from a student and an educator perspective, and how to teach students to use AI responsibly as a skillset required for a modern workforce.
- Dual and Concurrent Enrollment: Last year’s recalibration provided significant funding for dual and concurrent enrollment that would allow BOCES, high schools, and community colleges to receive funding in addition to the mill levy received at the local level. However, Rep. Ocean Andrew gave the directive to reel back this funding and recalculate on an ADM basis. Concerns were raised by others on the committee, but this is the direction they intend to move toward.
Recalibration Committee
The Recalibration Committee’s work was far from complete last session. As you might recall, the Freedom Caucus proposal to increase education funding by only $11 million was soundly defeated, and the House and the Senate instead put together a package to increase such funding by $123 million. While WEA was excited to see a significant influx of dollars to public education, the remainder of the bill has posed some significant challenges, such as the fact that the bill leaves education support staff and classified staff wanting. Further, districts’ implementation of the bill has varied significantly across the state, and concerns remain about funding (or lack thereof) for student activities, technology roles, and other positions outside of the “instructional silo.”
Additionally, the legislature has failed to address the components of food service, SROs, and the 1-to-1 technology mandate from the district court, and the state has failed to make any efforts to address school facilities and the lack of a suitability standard. It is WEA’s hope to help remedy many of these shortcomings in the coming months. The committee will meet June 24-25 in Lander, so if you would like to attend or have questions/concerns to share, email Tate Mullen.
Voucher Litigation
Last month, the Wyoming State Supreme Court reversed the injunction that prohibited the dollars for the voucher program to be dispersed to families. While WEA recognizes that families have the right to enroll their child in whatever type of education they feel is appropriate for them, we vehemently oppose the blatant violation of our state constitution in providing our hardworking taxpayer dollars to fund religious or private education. While this reversal was disheartening, the WEA still firmly believes that the district court and ultimately the Supreme Court of Wyoming will find the overall program unconstitutional and side with WEA on the merits of the case.
DATES TO REMEMBER
- June 24-25: Recalibration Committee Meeting, Lander
- July 21: Absentee voting begins - primary election (ends August 17)
- August 5: Candidate filing for school boards begins
- August 12-13: Joint Education Committee Meeting, Casper
- August 18: PRIMARY ELECTION
- October 6: Absentee voting begins – general election (ends November 2)
- November 3: GENERAL ELECTION
