When it comes to legislative meetings this summer, there’s definitely much to share. Here are updates on three of the key committees connected to public education:
Joint Education Committee
The Joint Education Committee (JEC) held its first interim meeting on May 28-29, establishing the groundwork from which legislators work to draft legislation. The agenda included such topics as Teacher Recruitment and Retention, K3 Literacy, Charter Schools, Higher Education, and School Discipline. Be assured that WEA representatives provided public comment on these matters.
Importantly, the JEC is exploring how to address the increase and severity of problematic student behaviors in our public schools. According to a recent National Education Policy Center publication, “multiple recent surveys suggest that student behavior is an increasing concern among educators.” These concerns reflect one of the major issues facing Wyoming educators, as was indicated in a WEA /University of Wyoming study as well as a more recent survey conducted by EdWeek.
One of the proposals to address this issue has been alluded to by legislators as well as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction: a Teachers’ Bill of Rights. Several states have implemented this and, in many instances, NEA’s state affiliates have worked with officials to pass this type of legislation.
With this opportunity to work with our legislators, WEA believes that increasing support and resources for our educators and students is one of the most effective ways to address the issue. WEA has worked with a wide range of stakeholders including educators, paraprofessionals, school counselors, administrators and others to develop a Wyoming Teachers’ Bill of Rights that reflects these best practices while providing for adequate and effective student discipline measures. A draft has been provided to legislators for the August JEC meeting.
School Facilities
The School Facilities Committee met on May 30 to discuss the bills from last session that would impact school facilities, the updates from the State Construction Department, and the use of funds on school building and facilities projects. Glaringly absent from the agenda was a discussion of how the committee would work to define and implement a “suitability” standard for assessing school facilities — as was mandated by the recent court decision in WEA’s school finance litigation across the state. WEA pressed the committee on this topic, and – by the end of the day – two motions were brought by Sen. Chris Rothfuss to address suitability: the first instructed the committee to take the issue up at the next committee meeting, and the second would ask the Management Council to facilitate and hire a consultant who would help them move forward with this work. Both motions were approved.
Upcoming Recalibration
The Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration will meet June 17-18 in Casper. Recalibration is the process that establishes a cost-based model for fully funding public education in Wyoming that is mandated by the courts to occur every five years. It is also the process where the Freedom Caucus intends to make cuts to public education.
Does “recalibration” seem wonky and difficult to wrap your brain around? If so, WEA, Better Wyoming, and our national partner Rally are working to provide easily accessible information to understand the recalibration process, as well as how you can advocate for public education. Learn more during an online session at 5:30-6:30pm on Tuesday, June 10. You can sign up for the free session here.
Additionally, Better Wyoming has published a Recalibration Guide to give you detailed access to this important information.
For those who attend that virtual session and who also attend the committee meeting in Casper on June 17, WEA will provide you with our Protect Wyoming’s Public Schools t-shirt to wear to the committee meeting! (We’ll distribute the shirts in Casper prior to the meeting.) This is a great opportunity to let your voices be heard in a process that is of significant importance to the future funding of public education! For more details about this meeting or training, contact WEA Government Relations Director Tate Mullen.
Thank you for your continued dedication to WEA. Your voice, your advocacy, and your commitment to public education really do make a difference. Together, we are stronger – and together we will continue the good fight for our students, our schools, and our future.
In solidarity!
