| We’re halfway through the 68th Wyoming Legislative session… More good news: HB100 – K12 Uncertified Personnel (which would allow uncertified 18-year-olds to teach) and SF188 – Teacher Tenure (which would eliminate continuing contract status for teachers) will not make it out of their legislative committees. Both bills have seen significant public opposition, and engagement from educators and education advocates has helped to kill these egregious bills. Two other bills that were harmful to public education were not introduced. HB315 – K12 Public Education Reorganization would have moved the State Board of Education and the Career and Technical Education Board under the purview and authority of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, thereby politicizing the boards. The flawed HB335 – Wyoming Educational Religious Freedom Act was an “everything and the kitchen sink” approach to attacking public education. One bill on the cusp of perishing is HB194 – Obscenity Amendments, which allows for the criminal prosecution of educators and librarians. These people are professionals in their field who follow district policies regarding curriculum and library materials, all of which are presented at local school board meetings and where public comment is welcomed. The unintended consequence of this poorly written and vaguely defined bill is that it would have a significant chilling effect on the quality of education that Wyoming students receive. The bill has been in the House Judiciary Committee for the entirety of this week, and more amendments are expected. Depending on what happens Friday, the bill will either move to the Committee of the Whole or die a necessary legislative death. HB200 – Parental Rights Amendments still has several concerning components, though the provisions requiring educators to provide all materials for documentation and public review have been gutted from the bill. We will continue to monitor its progress to ensure those provisions are not put back in through an amendment process. The troubling SJ6 – School Capital Construction continues to move through the Senate, passing its first Committee of the Whole reading. The bill would revert the funding mechanism for school facilities back to local property taxes — the same taxes that are currently being slashed. This bill inevitably will create two new taxes: one at the local level that would require voter approval to fund school facilities, as well as a statewide tax to equalize and cover the costs of other districts’ buildings. The proposal has significant constitutional issues. As we move through the legislative process, bills are starting to cross over to the other chamber. One of those bills is HB199 – also known as “the voucher bill.” This unconstitutional bill diverts millions of dollars from public education; lacks any accountability; negatively impacts student performance; opens the door to waste, fraud, and abuse; and would further damage our public education system. As you may recall, the Wyoming Education Association recently worked with the Republican polling firm co/efficient on a statewide survey. Despite the rhetoric from many in the legislature and from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the vast majority of Wyoming voters oppose the universal voucher program. At 8am on Monday, Feb. 10, the Senate Education Committee will meet regarding this bill (Room W110 of the Capitol Extension). This will be the last opportunity for citizens, educators, and education advocates to be heard on this issue. Please consider writing, texting, calling, emailing your senator – or the entire senate body – in opposition. If at all possible, filling the committee room with opposition testimony is a massive statement. That, coupled with the recent survey, would demonstrate that this unconstitutional proposal is neither wanted nor welcomed. In short, it was a week of some solid wins for public education, but the fight is far from over. If you want to become engaged with the process, please reach out to Government Relations Director Tate Mullen. |
