Wyoming: College and Career Policies

In 2005-2006, PAWS became the official statewide assessment used to measure individual student achievement against the Wyoming Content and Performance Standards in reading and writing for grades 3 – 8 and 11. Beginning in 2013, the PAWS was administered in grades 3-8 in reading. Writing is now assessed through the PAWS. PAWS is designed to be instructionally supportive and include clear targets for instruction as well as informative reporting categories. PAWS reports provide skill-level categories aligned to the Wyoming Content and Performance Standards as organized by the Wyoming Assessment Descriptions. Accommodations are allowed on the PAWS for students on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), for students on a 504 Plan, and for English Language Learners (ELL).

Electives are not required for graduation. However, demonstrating proficiency in certain elective areas will earn an endorsement on the high school diploma.

5 semester hours of college credit or 75 contact hours of professional development is required for certificate renewal.

Wyoming adopted Fine Arts Standards in 2013.

Wyoming adopted Fine Arts Standards in 2013.

The Wyoming State Board of Education share the authority to adopt assessments with the State Department of Education.

The State Board of Education had authority over the adoption of Career and Technical Education standards. Wyoming adopted these standards in 2014 to be fully implemented by the 2017-18 school year.

The Advisory Committee to the Wyoming Select Committee on Educational Accountability was charged with carrying out the recommendations put forth in the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act of 2012 (WEA 65) and House Bill 0072 (2013 Chapter 167). The specific charge for the Advisory Committee was to design a State Model for educator evaluation in Wyoming.

The Wyoming State Model Educator Support and Evaluation System was developed in response to the Accountability in Education Act of 2012 and House Bill 0072 (2013 Chapter 167). It is intended for local districts to use as a starting point, to be tailored to use in districts across the state, in order to ease the difficult process of developing an annual educator evaluation system. At least 20% of the educator evaluation should be based on student performance measures.

The Professional Teaching Standards Board oversees the Wyoming teacher certification process.

In order to become a certified teacher in Wyoming, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree, pass examinations required for the specific endorsement area, and complete an approved preparation program.

The Professional Teachers Standards Board requires all educators to have completed an approved teacher preparation program in order to become licensed to teach in a Wyoming school district.

The state has an agreement with CAEP to use their standards. The Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) requires all teachers to complete a regionally or nationally recognized teacher preparation program to teach in a Wyoming school district.