This bill is an attempt to clarify and expand the number of college credit courses available to eligible high-school students. In doing so, this will help reduce the overall cost of higher education for Wyoming high school students and their families by allowing them to complete more of their credit course work in high school.

This bill attempts to alleviate a scheduling discrepancy that impacts students "full-time" status for purposes of ADM calculations. This is a necessary fix and a pragmatic piece of legislation.

This bill amends current CTE equipment grants from $50k to $75k. For consideration, districts must also provide the immediately preceding two years of data related to CTE equipment expenditures instead of 5. WEA supports funding and supporting CTE programs. moves funding out of the block grant

This bill allows a greater than calculation for CTE equipment and supplies to provide additional dollars to smaller districts. This addresses calculations for CTE positions in smaller districts. As long as this is continuously fully funded WEA has no issue.

This bill amends language within the current statutes regarding the calculation of major maintenance costs and reimbursement for districts and charter schools. No significant impact is expected.

This bill modifies the allocation of maintenance worker positions (increase with corresponding funding) by removing the districts operating expenditures as one of the four averaged calculations. In addition to the fiscal consideration, given the bill implements evidence based model recommendations from the 2020 recalibration the bill enjoys significant support

WEA is currently monitoring this bill. The bill mandates that the state fire marshal shall not prohibit the use of door securement devices and that the state fire marshal shall craft policies to comply. There is a potential that the bill may have unintended consequences, however at this point, not enough to warrant either a positive or negative score.

This bill is a bill in search of a problem. The bill ignores modern science and the growing knowledge around gender, sex, and gender identity. The bill only works to further a national narrative that looks to discriminate against those who are not straight. The bill has implications for school facilities and data collection.

while the bill expands eligibility for CTE students as well as those who may just be looking for a certificate, the work requirement presents some significant policy questions that may raise equity issues for students in rural areas. However, this is a good bill with good intentions and an attempt to keep our education investments in the state of Wyoming

The bill mandates that if a district is to expel a student for longer than a year, they must make accommodations to provide an alternative track education. This will help to mitigate the school to prison pipeline issue presented by expulsion policies that are not centered in restorative justice practices.

This bill eliminates all curriculum accountability for home school students. This has significant work force readiness implications as well as larger statewide economic implications. Without providing curriculum, those families that have not homeschooled well, will necessitate a remedial action in schools that takes a significant amount of work

The proposed legislation is an expansion of the previous trans prohibition in athletics. The bill, first and foremost, raises significant legal questions in light of Bostok. What is more, these types of policies are counter to WEA's Legislative Platform and MACR Platform as well as our Safe and Just Schools Work. The bill suffers from equity, cost effectiveness, efficiency and administrative feasibility issues.

This bill may violate the decision handed down in Bostock v Clayton County and the rules promulgated by the EEOC and DOL. The bill is counter to WEA's Legislative Platform, MACR as well as our Safe and Just Schools work. The bill suffers significant equity issues, cost effectiveness, effectiveness, and administrative feasibility issues.

This political football is a priority for the Freedom Caucus, but does exactly what it purports to stop; putting politics in our investment strategies. This bill would significantly hamper the state from raising the necessary funds through investment strategies that have been so successful for Wyoming, insulating the state when there is an economic downturn. Over $1b would be lost to the retirement system alone by 2028 if the bill passes. It would spell trouble for the state economy as well.

Without providing any evidence that Wyoming charter schools perform as well or better than public schools, as was the assertion for allowing additional charter schools, this bill provides for the authorizing board to authorize an unlimited number of charter schools. this increases the overall cost of education, increases per pupil funding amounts without demonstrating benefit. Charters currently can work with districts to receive authorization.

the bill looks to create a new account, where $100 million from the sale of state lands is to be deposited. expenditures from the account are only to be for education purposes, but expenditures are prohibited for over 2 decades. WEA will monitor this bill as it moves through the process.

This bill ignores virology science and cripples districts ability to address any future significant outbreaks of COVID 19 putting students, staff, families and the community at large at risk.

The WEA Legislative Platform states "The WEA opposes tax rate reductions for business and industry which negatively impact revenue flow to the state’s general fund or any school funding accounts." Additionally, the platform specifically states "The WEA believes that no class of property currently on the tax rolls should be exempt from any form of taxes that benefit public schools. We therefore oppose any legislation that would permit such exemptions." The bill is scored using our REMI tax doc.

despite efforts to address the teacher shortage, a bill that completely diminishes the professionalism of educators and will significantly negatively impact student performance is not the answer. Potentially violates Campbell II case law. Irresponsible, shortsighted and dangerous.

This is a simple language clean up, eliminating one date for fund transfers to districts. WEA is monitoring this bill

The bill creates a 50% property tax exemption for owner occupied homes. This reduces the school foundation program by over $50 million a year. There is a backfill that is a one-time appropriation that will cover the loss to the SFP as well as a sunset date. Should the legislature in the future repeal the sunset date, this would cause a $50 million a year loss to education funding. WEA's platforms do not support exemptions

While the bill provides significant dollars to address school facility projects, major maintenance, ancillary building projects, demolition costs and unanticipated costs, these dollars are drawn from the SFP given the consolidation of school facilities and operations funding out of the SFP.

The bill may significantly hamper educators ability to provide a high quality education to their students, while meeting standards. Will have a chilling effect on many important education related topics including historical discussions about WWI, WWII, Jim Crow Laws, Tulsa Race Massacre, Trail of Tears etc.

The bill creates a 50% property tax exemption for owner occupied homes. This reduces the school foundation program by $124 million a year and local revenues by $73 million. There is a backfill that is a one-time appropriation that will cover the loss to the SFP as well as a sunset date. Should the legislature in the future repeal the sunset date, this would cause a $50 million a year loss to education funding. WEA's platforms do not support exemptions

The bill would repeal gun free zones allowing for citizens to carry firearms in public schools. as all policy should benefit our students and educators, and given the data behind gun violence, WEA platforms advocating for local control, and deficiencies in equity, effectiveness, administrative feasibility and cost effectiveness, WEA does not support this proposal.

This bill appropriates over $5 million in grants for student mental health services in our public schools. The bill is a great start in helping to address this critical issue. While the fiscal note score would warrant a +1, the qualitative policy analysis on this bill and the effort to address one of educations most significant issues is what bolstered this bills score.

this bill would open up educators and librarians for criminal prosecution under obscenities statutes. This bill would have a chilling effect on instruction, including sex education which has been proven to reduce teen pregnancies. The bill would also have a significantly negative impact on educator recruitment and retention.

While the fiscal impact of this proposed legislation is indeterminate, WEA cannot support an unconstitutional voucher program that draws dollars away from an already underfunded K12 program with minimal accountability and oversight. the bill does no increase the amount of dollars but expands eligibility.

This is a new voucher bill that makes vouchers universal in Wyoming; draws over $40 million away from public schools, no accountability, no oversight; open for waste, fraud and abuse; and undoubtedly unconstitutional.

the bill expands an already problematic parental rights bill that provided vague language that has already been problematic for districts to implement. The bill would mandate all educators to provide all materials, digital, hand held and presenters ahead of time and published on a district website. This applies to all educators, not just social studies/civics/history, though this was the original intent. creates an undue burden on educators

the bill looks to move CTE out of the block grant and putting the funding allocation into statute. this would make the appropriation categorical. It does provide for an external cost adjustment upon legislative approval. The bill also provides grants for CTE equipment. WEA doesn't believe the bill is necessary ahead of a recalibration and while grants are already available for equipment.

The bill is intended to allow the Governor to fulfill his obligations in terms of the block grant. This was an issue with a position on the new charter school authorization board. Innocuous.

The bill removes the Gillette school and bus barn, despite years of needing to be addressed. Efforts similar to this are one of the reasons WEA filed the lawsuit to address school facilities. Relevant to our current litigation and ongoing litigation.

This is a $14 million cut to public education on an annual basis.

the bill by reducing the spending policy amount, reducing K12 funding by $24 million on a yearly basis. while K12 funding is constitutionally mandated to be fully funded, the implied attempt is to run down the LSRA as a backfill for education so dollars are not available to fund.

the bill expands the previous years athletics ban and includes legal and civil remedies.

In an attempt to reduce the negative impact of property tax exemptions on a cumulative level, this bill looks to provide guidance as to how to assess those cumulative property tax breaks. WEA will monitor+

the bill is unconstitutional and would significantly reduce funding for public schools.

Brought to just raise the discussion that if we cut all these property taxes we must be ready to raise revenue in other ways...including sales or income tax. Bill was pulled.

repeals section 314 of the 2024 budget bill where the distribution of revenue from severance taxes was modified to include 1/3 of those revenues to the SFP Reserve Account. repealing this section and eliminating the account would revert the $88 million in the SFP Reserve Account to the CSPFR Account and in FY2026 would move the $1.3 million dedicated to that account to the Budget Reserve Account. Its a means to reduce education funding while bolstering savings and investment returns.

The bill would reduce the amount of FMR's distributed to the school foundation program by $600k in FY2026. In future years any distribution that would typically be distributed to the school foundation program would go the common school permanent fund reserve account and the permanent wyoming mineral trust fund. This is an effort to save and invest instead of spend on education now. Given the unknown and perpetual robbing of SFP funds, this increases the score well and above the REMI model impact

The bill would put the State Board of Education and the State Board of Career and Technical Education under the authority of the State Superintendent. This is ultimately a power grab. Both of these boards are to be non-political. This ensures that the goals and efforts of the boards are driven by evidence, data base solutions and educational best practices. Moving these under the purview of the SUPT would make them highly political and at the political whim of the SUPT. Rubber Stamp

WEA will continue to monitor the recal process. This bill is standard language that establishes committee composition and recal efforts. ( amendments made that include the ECA since the budget bill is a failure and will be scored accordingly)

creates a task force to fully understand how much trouble the state is in financially after the session.

The bills language is so vague that it would create a substantial chilling effect on education. It would prohibit any social emotional learning; discussions about systemic/structural racism; American exceptionalism; and so many other education components. Ignores the curriculum adoption and implementation process; curriculum directors roles and collaboration with educators. Constitutionally void for vagueness. an attack on public education

while only a resolution, the declaration would have implications for ensuring adequate and cost-based funding for all schools regardless of economies of scale issues. Has significant implications regarding current litigation

The WEA Legislative Platform does not support any tax exemptions as they negatively impact education funding. This would be roughly a loss of $6 million a year in revenue without any backfill.

This bill will allow school district vehicles that are not school buses, but that are still used to transport students to display flashing safety lights. A number of incidents have occurred over the past few years that highlights the need for districts and the legislature to address student safety in regards to transportation as well as crosswalks.

the bill provides for reporting individual student IRP's while also still allowing for group reading as an appropriate intervention. the bill is a continued work to help provide effective reading interventions for students while being mindful of reporting requirements

The WEA admires the intent of the bill so as to provide local non profits, library, library foundation a partnership with the Dollywood Foundation that provides books to children and families in need. concerns about constitutionality are still present, though the way dollars are distributed may help to alleviate. WEA will support the bill, but will update as needed.

the bill is identical to many efforts across the united states, to limit cell phones and social media in our classrooms. This is an effort to address student mental health, improve student performance, and increase classroom management. While this is a state mandate, the importance of addressing this crisis outweighs the local control argument and districts are still allowed to craft their own unique policies.

This bill increases the allowable square footage utilized to calculate routine and major maintenance for school districts and increases the percentage utilized to calculate major maintenance payments to school districts

This bill provides a unique balance for concealed carry in schools, our second amendment rights, as well as being proactive regarding school safety and local control. While WEA does not support the bill, this is a calculated attempt at compromise with a highly controversial issue.

The WEA Legislative Platform states "The WEA opposes tax rate reductions for business and industry which negatively impact revenue flow to the state’s general fund or any school funding accounts." Additionally, the platform specifically states "The WEA believes that no class of property currently on the tax rolls should be exempt from any form of taxes that benefit public schools. We therefore oppose any legislation that would permit such exemptions." The bill is scored using our REMI tax doc.

This bill may violate the decision handed down in Bostock v Clayton County and the rules promulgated by the EEOC and DOL. The bill is counter to WEA's Legislative Platform, MACR as well as our Safe and Just Schools work. The bill suffers significant equity issues, cost effectiveness, effectiveness, and administrative feasibility issues.

The WEA Legislative Platform states "The WEA opposes tax rate reductions for business and industry which negatively impact revenue flow to the state’s general fund or any school funding accounts." Additionally, the platform specifically states "The WEA believes that no class of property currently on the tax rolls should be exempt from any form of taxes that benefit public schools. We therefore oppose any legislation that would permit such exemptions." The bill is scored using our REMI tax doc.

The WEA Legislative Platform states "The WEA believes that no class of property currently on the tax rolls should be exempt from any form of taxes that benefit public schools. We therefore oppose any legislation that would permit such exemptions." The bill is scored using our REMI tax doc. even with backfilling this leaves a $60+ million SFP shortfall

The intent behind the bill is altruistic. It is a means to address our educator and student happiness by providing flexibility in school calendar year scheduling. However, WEA has concerns regarding completing the same amount of work in less time as well as implications for district negotiations that may reduce pay.

This bill provides charter schools funding for their central office positions. However, the bill creates an equity issue in terms of how district to district fund that central office component as well as creating an inequity from how we fund charter and district central office components. This creates an issue of equity as prohibited in case law. appropriate for district authorized; not for state authorized.

This bill violates policies against bullying and harassment. The bill violates WEA's "Dignity in the Workplace" portion of our MACR platform. The bill targets specific minority populations within the workforce. It is discriminatory in nature and targets a population that is considered a protected class.

The WEA Legislative Platform states "The WEA opposes tax rate reductions for business and industry which negatively impact revenue flow to the state’s general fund or any school funding accounts." Additionally, the platform specifically states "The WEA believes that no class of property currently on the tax rolls should be exempt from any form of taxes that benefit public schools. We therefore oppose any legislation that would permit such exemptions." The bill is scored using our REMI tax doc.

The bill looks to provide teacher an alternative teacher certification. However, the bill is targeting one specific company. Additionally, the program is self-guided and online. The standard/materials seem to be subpar, and the would-be educator would miss out on the ever important classroom teaching experience before managing their own classroom. Raises equity issues and concerns over teacher preparedness, teacher quality, teacher retention.

WEA is monitoring the bill.

This bill would politicize school board elections. Given the hyper-partisan nature of the state of Wyoming, candidates will no longer be elected because they are the most qualified but instead because of identity politics. Would have potentially negative consequences for school districts, employees, and students across the state.

The bill may significantly hamper educators ability to provide a high quality education to their students, while meeting standards. Will have a chilling effect on many important education related topics including vestiges of systemic racism including education funding, gerrymandering, disparities in health outcomes, pay equity etc.

Districts are already able to craft these policies if they so choose. They are in the best position to make that determination and not have it mandated by the state. WEA will monitor this bill

WEA is simply monitoring the bill as it looks to expand the definition of what a public employee is by including volunteer cross walk guards for schools

while the intent of the bill is altruistic, the pot of money for education funding is limited. The bill diverts close to $5 million to provide grants to applicant schools for cross-walk guard pay, training etc. While admirable, those dollars are needed for the already underfunded K12 operations and facilities. If the state fully funded K12, WEA could support. With that caveat WEA will monitor.

would require districts to report students/families who are suspected of being illegal to ICE.

The bill attempts to provide for the lab school at UW to be a component of the public education system and funded through the school resource block grant. WEA will monitor this bill

This bill repeals the requirement under W.S. 21-3-110(a)(x)(A)(II) that a charter school's lease payment is conditioned upon the State Construction Department's determination no adequate educational facilities exist within the applicable district for operation of a charter school. may reduce or increase costs depending on facility lease. more than likely an effort to reduce costs

The bill looks to potentially open up liability and impose the potential for punitive measures if parental rights are violated. Harmful given the vagueness in language of last years parental rights bill. Also inequitable across student populations

the bill proposes a property tax exemption that would greatly reduce locals ability to raise revenue for schools. There is a backfill, but that backfill is short by $6 million. Additionally, if the sunset provision were removed it would require additional legislative approval for the backfill. Given composition this would not happen, and removal of a sunset is a political tactic used to pass what is supposed legislation, with the intent to make it long-term in the future.

the bill would extend the sunset date on allowing districts to maintain a 30% cash reserve compared to the previous 15%.

while the fiscal impact is indeterminate, the bill will reduce revenue for K12 schools. WEA Legislative Platform does not support tax exemptions

WEA will continue to monitor the bill to determine how this bill may interact with other property tax relief measures.

The bill creates significant problems for our already underfunded districts. Districts use of reserves as well as the use of their block grant dollars are a product of a significantly and consistently underfunded K12 education program. Additionally, now that operations and facilities are funded out of the same account, discerning which dollars are going where are impossible. Creates a significant burden for districts which will impact students.

The bill is unconstitutional and inevitably will be litigated. Wil reduce funding for public education.

The bill attempts to move teacher salaries out of the block grant and make them a categorical grant. These are efforts usually associated with potential cuts to come in other areas of the block grant. while the intent may seem an effort to protect teacher salaries, the overall school funding will be put at risk for cuts which would not be cost based and additionally would reduce $ to teachers as districts cannot reallocate

The bill would cut over $60 million in revenue to the SFP

The bill creates arbitrary markers for a percentage of students at a given grade level to be proficient in English Language Arts and Mathematics. If those schools do not meet those thresholds, or if only 12.5% of parents want to petition the court, to find the school or district bankrupt. Assigns a trustee, removes superintendent, removes school board authority, principals, administrators. Due process and constitutional problems abound here. arbitrary and capricious.

This bill establishes a mandatory retention policy for students who are below proficient in the statewide summative assessment. The bill ignores best practices and would facilitate higher dropout rates, decreased student performance, and an increase in mental health issues among retained students.

The bill would limit the governor's ability to provide supplemental budget recommendations to the degree that it would not allow him to provide for an external cost adjustment in the supplemental budget

The intent seems to be to accelerate the rate increases to July 1, 2025 instead of letting the prior session HB0083 mechanism operate and institute similar rate adjustments effective 1 July 2026. For the System, money sooner is of course better. But, for employees and employers, that is not the case. For state employees, there is no wage increase coming, so take-home pay will be diminished.

Continuing contract is a provision that ensures due process for our experienced educators. Continuing contract prevents a school district from dismissing an educator with continuing contract without good reason and due process. Those opposed often refer to this as "tenure" and falsely claim that it keeps bad educators employed. Data and evidence do not bear this out and is a patently false claim.

Unconstitutional. Period. violates all Campbell case law and is highly inequitable.