[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6678097,"mediaKeyId","2152955-00f009f775d99b750c49204c745b019e","parentId",2152955,"title","Senate Education Committee endorses open-enrollment bill with local flexibility, adds priority for program participants","audioSeconds",2117,"startMs",4359000,"endMs",6476000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2152955-00f009f775d99b750c49204c745b019e&start=4359&end=6476","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2152955-00f009f775d99b750c49204c745b019e/thumbnail_4359000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6678097/Wyoming/Senate-Education-Committee-endorses-open-enrollment-bill-with-local-flexibility-adds-priority-for-program-participants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678097-02afddd12ba2cc6d5bf4a0adb545a2e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154487&Signature=KHVPASuKcPCYW2powKtSeDnw2OltYtFemz1WoP1wzyb91FUcpipETjVVkSo4ipfHASjjMlD2V4ejCX5mRP-sFcZxqhHx~PZb7PY4DR8C5C3Y6rkecO2u7TceQv7R9uAfl2l3QtxrF4ngfzLXpnjga3o2REZwAoq4wgI-utpVLTFrDWFL6f0Wou2G1P2WX349Ugfuy7GZIYwv4sFi~gOlUM84WPD-TK2IfrCz8Zt3hGk9oVPxAvuX94zfJuBd6ZfKEcUmg4kB126RHyMLYfOzIlApIrbZ9oQ5ZK9svfntayAmoYz1VqqgDBi1IoGrkkRPkKuqfPRVJiPwJMPrg-MKzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-01-27T16:55:02.167Z","article","Senator Brennan introduced Senate File 109 on Jan. 27 as a bill asking Wyoming school districts to adopt policies allowing pupils to enroll in any public school within their resident district, subject to capacity and local policy priorities.

The bill sets a statewide timeframe for districts to adopt policies beginning in the 2026 school year; it asks districts to give priority to pupils who reside within the school attendance area, pupils participating in a school-based educational program, and pupils who have siblings currently enrolled in the requested school.

Committee members and witnesses emphasized the bill’s intent to increase family choice but repeatedly raised operational concerns about transportation, capacity and priority rules. Multiple witnesses — including Brian Farmer of the Wyoming School Boards Association, Boyd Brown of the Wyoming Association of School Administrators and representatives of Natrona County and Casper’s experience — described the substantial planning and transportation arrangements required to operate a central transportation hub and warned that the fiscal note is indeterminate because costs depend on district implementation choices.

Witnesses also described how Casper’s long-running open‑enrollment approach accommodates specialized programs such as language immersion and career-technical education by balancing neighborhood seats with program slots and by sometimes requiring parents to provide transportation when a district does not provide a dedicated bus service for the chosen program.

The committee adopted a sponsor amendment inserting a priority for pupils participating in a school‑based educational program in paragraph rankings of enrollment priority. Committee members also discussed adding default language for cases in which families do not submit an enrollment request; they left that detail for committee‑of‑the‑whole drafting and local district policy, but did note a likely default to the neighborhood school would be administratively sensible.

On roll call the committee recorded five ayes — Senator Brennan, Senator Olson, Senator Rothfuss, Senator Scott and Chairwoman Schueller — and reported the bill do pass as amended.

What this means: SF109 as reported would require each district to adopt an open‑enrollment policy by the 2026 school year that gives local districts the authority to establish capacity rules, priorities (including residence, program participation and siblings) and transportation arrangements. The statewide statute would mandate policy adoption but leave detailed operational choices — transportation provision, capacity management, and default placement rules — to local districts unless the Legislature later specifies otherwise.

Votes at a glance: Senate File 109 — Do pass as amended; Committee roll call: Brennan Aye; Olson Aye; Rothfuss Aye; Scott Aye; Schueller Aye. Outcome: passed committee and reported do pass as amended.

Next steps: Bill will move to the Senate floor; committee members suggested possible additional language on default placement and transportation funding to consider in the committee of the whole or on the floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Education Committee, January 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate File 109, a bill requiring Wyoming school districts to adopt open-enrollment policies within district boundaries beginning in the 2026 school year, was advanced by the Senate Education Committee on Jan. 27.","taxTitle","Education Committee, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",61168,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6678101,"Wyoming Senate Education Committee approves alternative teaching certification bill after amendment",4312,62000,4374000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2152955-00f009f775d99b750c49204c745b019e&start=62&end=4374","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2152955-00f009f775d99b750c49204c745b019e/thumbnail_62000.jpg","/articles/6678101/Wyoming/Wyoming-Senate-Education-Committee-approves-alternative-teaching-certification-bill-after-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678101-ab0b279283d29bbda6232c4ede63f326/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154487&Signature=lcN6twRIx4m3c2al0yjaW3BHfn~RIJw1gML7VXR1zBkmQ7ECOnbWl4EB87RZCJuCztoLu4OcTqH-Nm79bvfwCmFS~~ndIobdWpiZ5IkHLQkb4MHUIBQyPL3~f2mB8LJnoXJmMGMmupFLMdz0ufnYqS0kCOKjqj-GYvLlc6gX~BEL2zCcHfQLgBMwb8Ezz16cSXQyVKSuybOojJoplLv5P140xYczGuoT5AVo5WgxODpnzpCr4kgW9bmWo8X~PgWyESNptM3BqSrFrg94ae3sGNRE6FgnBCl6iRwQVkvsFQWm1oTPP3xeBrSzrhDeaDej0NRm-9JK5tOYK5-bF02cfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Larson, sponsor of Senate File 86, told the Senate Education Committee on Jan. 27 that the bill would require the Professional Teaching Standards Board to promulgate rules allowing alternative teacher certification programs that meet requirements set in statute.

The bill’s sponsor said the goal was to ensure alternative certification pathways are available across Wyoming after an effort to secure the same result through board rule-making did not succeed. “This is the alternative teaching certificate,” Senator Larson said, describing alternative programs as a way to expand the pool of qualified teachers without replacing traditional pathways.

The committee heard extended testimony from school-district and education stakeholders who urged caution. Brian Farmer, Executive Director of the Wyoming School Boards Association, said the bill as drafted read like it was written for a single provider and expressed concern about creating a de facto monopoly for one program. Nick Belak of the Wyoming School Boards Association and former national testing expert said many states that adopted similar drafts later narrowed or rejected them because of concerns about pedagogy, student teaching and measurement of test validity.

Brendan O’Connor, executive director of the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB), told the committee the PTSB already provides flexibility and has nearly 300 active professional industry/career permits that place experienced nontraditional candidates in classrooms. O’Connor said the American Board program discussed by the sponsor is primarily a test-preparation pathway and does not include a traditional student-teaching component; he cautioned that candidates licensed through that pathway often require intensive in‑district supports and mentorship.

Isabel Welch, Director of Government Affairs for American Board, described the program as a nationally used pathway for career changers, veterans, paraprofessionals and substitutes. She said American Board’s program costs about $1,900 and is typically completed in about a year; the board’s pedagogy exam is aligned to the InTASC standards, she said.

Committee debate focused on quality controls and whether the statute should name or effectively privilege one provider. Senator Olson offered an amendment that removed the earlier, narrowly tailored provider criteria and instead made approval permissive: the board would approve programs, and approved programs would, at a minimum, require passage of a subject-area examination, a pedagogy examination, a U.S. Constitution examination and a Wyoming Constitution examination; issuance of the alternative certificate would be limited to the subject areas and grade levels successfully completed by the applicant. The amendment incorporated language similar to a streamlined 2023 engrossed version previously passed by the Senate.

The committee voted to advance the bill as amended. On a roll call the committee recorded five ayes — Senator Brennan, Senator Olson, Senator Rothfuss, Senator Scott and Chairwoman Schueller — and the bill was reported do pass as amended. Chairwoman Schueller invited Senator Larson to take the legislation to the floor and continue work on any further amendments.

What this means: if enacted in the form approved by the committee, the statute would require the PTSB to promulgate rules allowing alternative certification programs approved by the board and conditioning issuance on passage of the listed examinations and limiting certification to the subject areas completed by the applicant. The committee record shows concern about student-teaching, classroom management preparation, data on candidate outcomes, and the risk of privileging a single provider; the PTSB told the committee it already works with districts and accredited alternative providers and would be able to approve programs that meet board standards.

Votes at a glance: Senate File 86 — Do pass as amended; Committee roll call: Brennan Aye; Olson Aye; Rothfuss Aye; Scott Aye; Schueller Aye. Outcome: passed committee and reported do pass as amended.

Next steps: The bill will be scheduled for floor consideration; the sponsor and committee members indicated they expect additional amendment work before floor debate.","Senator Larson, sponsor of Senate File 86, told the Senate Education Committee on Jan. 27 that the bill would require the Professional Teaching Standards Board to promulgate rules allowing alternative teacher certification programs that meet requirements set in statute.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6678094,"Committee fast-tracks resolution commemorating Gov. Nellie Tayloe Ross' 100th anniversary",169,6467000,6636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2152955-00f009f775d99b750c49204c745b019e&start=6467&end=6636","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2152955-00f009f775d99b750c49204c745b019e/thumbnail_6467000.jpg","/articles/6678094/Wyoming/Committee-fast-tracks-resolution-commemorating-Gov-Nellie-Tayloe-Ross-100th-anniversary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678094-ea3217e90b16e3b42f753b9ee62fe830/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154487&Signature=iDgI2I9e5IqthjkG3rFNNFPePD7IUZ06km46~4oUKBONgEzWzgcVqnqIIWKtzUobM2Gt6-srEU3eNaVIQluTBxe7HHAueRMv9Tvl9a-hEPPk8t1EVFSOEcjLHM4bkl2WmHYS1FwuVcqRAyTaEQWYFkBUSGfDpNVgJlg35H3Prekg6RwkkJqaO7-TcBKBHKYEtWAholXY6inCHIH8CcOZxCTLcm55-Z4Y6JhOCwHKPAkt2fZ~NxhY~hBo5cBoveQ-PsFwOC9tsRZUER1hQCSwikr~7V1QS-3ZG08OAyIH0OtSu8vczFk35cyc7H7vdEG86VA8Qw7enbIblsNRuBa6oQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Joint Resolution 3, presented by the majority floor leader, recognizes the 100th anniversary of Nellie Tayloe Ross’ election as governor in January 1925. The sponsor said the resolution clarifies historical facts about Ross’ election and celebrates another of Wyoming’s “firsts.”

The resolution text summarizes Ross’ life and career and stresses that she was elected to the governorship after replacing her husband on the ballot following his death prior to the election; the sponsor emphasized that she was elected by voters and not merely appointed. The committee agreed and advanced the resolution without extended debate.

On roll call the committee recorded five ayes — Senator Brennan, Senator Olson, Senator Rothfuss, Senator Scott and Chairwoman Schueller — and reported the resolution do pass.

Votes at a glance: Senate Joint Resolution 3 — Do pass; Committee roll call: Brennan Aye; Olson Aye; Rothfuss Aye; Scott Aye; Schueller Aye. Outcome: passed committee and reported do pass.

Next steps: The resolution will be placed on the Senate calendar for floor consideration where sponsors indicated they will provide the full historical text and minor clarifying edits as needed.","Senate Joint Resolution 3, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Nellie Tayloe Ross becoming the first woman elected governor in the United States (January 1925), was adopted by the committee 5-0 and reported do pass.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate Education Committee endorses open-enrollment bill with local flexibility, adds priority for program participants

Wyoming Senate Education Committee approves alternative teaching certification bill after amendment

Committee fast-tracks resolution commemorating Gov. Nellie Tayloe Ross' 100th anniversary