Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1458924
13 schools. Currently, the Wyoming High School Athletics Association already has in place what is considered the gold standard in policies to address transgender students' participation in athletics. This policy is being replicated in states such as Utah and has provided a functional means of addressing this issue in the state of Wyoming for the past eight years. The bill was brought as a solution that was seeking a problem and was based on a constituent's concern regarding an issue in a different state. Students from the University of Wyoming were some of the many who traveled to testify in opposition to this bill before the Senate Education Committee. It died when it did not receive a referral to the House Education Committee. In less welcome news, Wyoming's retired public employees—which includes education employees—will go yet another year without a benefits increase. Both a bill that would have provided for a genuine cost of living adjustment (COLA) and 13th check legislation failed to make it out of the Capitol alive (read more about the legislation impacting retirees on page 22). There's no doubt that education has faced threats and challenges this session, but the 2022 Budget Session has also shaped some positive bills for our public schools. As of this writing, Senate File 78 Language Proficiency Seal of Biliteracy awaits the Governor's signature after it passed the House Education Committee. This legislation will award bi-literate students a designation on their high school transcripts recognizing their proficiency in languages additional to English. The vast majority of US states already award this designation. This bill will help Wyoming's bi-literate students stand out when applying for colleges, scholarships, and jobs. The intent behind Senate File 32 K-3 Reading Assessment and Intervention is good. As the bill reads currently, it enacts a study that will require approval of assessment and screening instruments, parental or guardian notification of students' reading ability, professional development, rulemaking, studies, and reporting. The purpose of the bill is to act as a building block to develop a comprehensive and effective policy for districts that will attempt to bolster Wyoming's K-3 reading proficiency and help identify students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. Currently, the appropriation is well below what it would take to implement this across the state. But, again, it is important to note that this bill develops a trial program to see what works and what needs re-worked within the legislation. More than likely, this topic will be proposed for continued work during the interim. WEA worked with the bringer of the bill as well as with a variety of stakeholders throughout this process from before the first Joint Interim Education Committee Meeting last year. WEA incorporated teacher voice into the legislative process to ensure that the bill is practical in both implementation and funding. House Bill 31 Wyoming's Tomorrow Scholarship Program proposes investing endowment dollars and allocating the yield of that investment to community colleges for scholarship opportunities for students. The purpose of the bill is based on the recognition that the economic and employment landscape in the state of Wyoming is changing. With that change comes the need to help our current workforce, who may have skills in other areas, translate and build those skills to help them transition to what the new state economy may look like. Whether that is training in renewable resources or even nuclear energy, this program looks forward. It is a means to bolster the job skills of our current workforce. As of the writing of this bill, however, the $50 million appropriation for the endowment has been stripped from the bill by the Senate. Without this endowment, the program would be at a virtual standstill and unable to be implemented. One of our strongest successes for public education this session is WEA's new Legislative Report Card. This highly- visible measure of lawmakers' support—or lack thereof— for public education adds a layer of accountability. This, coupled with our members' willingness to quickly and nimbly respond to opportunities to testify and cyber-lobby, ensures that our students and educators have a tireless, unified, powerful voice of advocacy at the Capitol. That voice has served us well this session. By: Tate Mullen Do your legislators support public education? Take a look at the grades their voting records have earned them on WEA's new Legislative Report Card. scorecard.wealegislativeinfo.com Questions about this legislative session, bills impacting education, or how you can get more involved? Contact WEA Government Relations Director Tate Mullen at tmullen@wyoea.org. U p d a t e