Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/229104
ds e Stand? regarding Wyoming's student performance standards? edu.wyoming.gov/Programs/ standards.aspx. Districts are progressing at varying rates in the implementation of the revised standards. There are numerous resources available to assist you in implementation of the CCSS—see the WEA Website at: http://wyoea. org/common-core-state-standardsccss-resources/. Now under consideration by the SBE are revised Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, and Career and Vocational Education standards. Please take time to read these standards: go to http:// edu.wyoming.gov and look in the green box on the right-hand side of the homepage, where you will find all 4 sets of proposed standards, as well as links to feedback surveys where you can provide input on them. The SBE would particularly like to hear from the experts in the field: the teachers who will be teaching these standards. The proposed Wyoming Science standards are based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). According to the NGSS Website, "In a process managed by Achieve, states lead the development of K–12 science standards, rich in content and practice, arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally-benchmarked science education. The NGSS … will prepare students for college and careers. The NGSS was developed collaboratively with states and other stakeholders in science, science education, higher education and industry. Additional review and guidance was provided by advisory committees composed of nationally-recognized leaders in science and science education as well as business and industry. As part of the development process, the standards underwent multiple reviews from many stakeholders including two public drafts, allowing all who have a stake in science education an opportunity to inform the development of the standards. This process produced a set of high quality, collegeand career-ready K–12 Next Generation Science Standards ready for state adoption." Again, it was a Wyoming standards committee comprised of Wyoming citizens who chose to recommend the adoption of the NGSS as Wyoming's student performance standards for Science. The SBE is waiting to hear your feedback on the proposed standards. And despite misinformation to the contrary, there will be no invasive data collections conducted on our children; the standards-related data collection requirements have been in place for many years and are primarily on an aggregate level and involve anonymous information to determine the effectiveness of the education system for all. The state of Wyoming is the biggest driver of the data collection requirements, not the federal government. If you have questions on Wyoming student performance standards, the adoption process, or the truth about rumors you have heard about CCSS or NGSS, you can contact the Wyoming Department of Education Standards Unit, (307) 777-3469; WEA President Kathy Vetter, kvetter@nea.org; or WEA Professional Issues Director Kathy Scheurman, kscheurman@nea.org. But do all these changes mean Wyoming will be moving to a national curriculum? Absolutely not, because the Wyoming Constitution and Wyoming statutes require that the actual textbooks, curricula, and teaching methods in Wyoming for each content area are LOCAL decisions. WINTER 2013 ICI_ 6 Winter 2013 Final.indd 17 | wyoea.org 17 12/12/13 3:41 PM