Degenfelder announces plan to streamline state testing

CHEYENNE (WNE) — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder’s Assessment Reduction & Efficiency Plan was presented Thursday at the Wyoming State Board of Education’s (SBE) annual retreat in Newcastle.

Work will continue on these recommendations in collaboration with the SBE and the Wyoming Legislature.

“I have heard the concerns of educators, parents and students about the need to reduce the burden of testing,” Degenfelder said in a news release. “As a result, I am proposing this plan to reduce and streamline the state assessment system while still maintaining the academic rigor we need to provide valuable insight into student learning.”

The plan includes a decrease of 30% of the number of items on the math assessment in grades 3-8, which aligns with the recently reduced math and science standards proposed by the SBE and WDE, as well as removal of kindergarten through grade 2 (K-2) interim assessments, removal of the grade 3 writing assessment, possible removal of mandatory assessment for grade 9, and an updated math assessment in high school that focuses less on course-based math content and more on comprehensive math skills.

The plan also includes the release of additional diagnostic tools for teachers, so they can use the assessment in a more meaningful way.

For more information, read the plan at tinyurl.com/wyo-assessment-reduction.

This story was published on June 21, 2024.