At the most recent board meeting for Lincoln County School District No. 2, Superintendent Matt Erickson identified several bills that were recently passed by the 68th Wyoming Legislature that will either affect or have the potential to affect the district.
“There is no clear direction on some of them,” Erickson noted. He referenced legal council as they work through the discussion of the following bills:
House Bill 172: A bill that repeals gun-free zones in state-run buildings, public schools and public meeting spaces across Wyoming. Erickson noted that no enrolled students can obtain a concealed carry for the schools. He also stated that questions remain in regards to what constitutes faculties and the use of biometric containers. Erickson said that the board of trustees may adopt rules and regulations and that those could potentially include training.
House Bill 316: The select committee shall study virtual education models in other states and offer suggestions on a funding formula for Wyoming virtual schools that is both equitable and predictable.
Senate File 86: An act relating to the certification of teachers; modifying the duties of the professional teaching standards board; creating an alternative teacher certificate for K-12 teachers; establishing requirements for alternative certification.
Senate File 137: Erickson noted that this extends the 30-percent cash reserves with a sunset date of June 30, 2028.
House Bill 46: Removing the requirement that a home-based educational program submit curriculum to the local school board.
House Bill 94: This act removes the approval limitation and specifies that beginning on July 1, 2025, the Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board (WCSAB) may authorize any number of charter schools in accordance with the laws governing the Board and charter schools. Erickson noted that in the past the WCSAB could only a very limited number of schools and how this had affected the recent discussion for a charter school in Alpine.
House Bill 199: This modifies the education saving accounts program; changing the name of the program to the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act.
Senate File 62: Requiring public school children to use restrooms, sex-designated changing facilities and sleeping quarters that align with their sex at birth.
Senate File 13: Related to reading assessment and intervention; eliminating the permissive use of group reading plans in individualized reading plans and modifying the requirements for school and district improvement plans.
Erickson concluded that of all of the bills that were passed related to schools, only one was linked to academics, noting that the most recent legislature opted to focus on moral issues rather than academics.
