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Superintendent urges comprehensive K–3 literacy statute rewrite as grant funding winds down
Summary
State Superintendent Megan Degenfeller asked the Joint Education Committee to study K–3 literacy reform and a statutory rewrite after state screening programs and recent work identified persistent proficiency gaps; she noted the impending end of a federal grant that funds literacy staff.
State Superintendent Megan Degenfeller told the Joint Education Committee on March 5 that K–3 literacy is a top priority and recommended a comprehensive statutory rewrite to align Wyoming law with national best practices, teacher preparation programs and professional development.
Degenfeller said the state has implemented universal screeners and is reviewing statutes but that the existing statutory framework is “messy and confusing.” She noted recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results show a 2% national drop in fourth-grade reading and that, although Wyoming ranks highly overall, only 36% of Wyoming fourth-graders were proficient or above on the NAEP measure cited in her remarks.
Degenfeller added that a federal CLSD grant will end this fall, which will reduce agency staffing dedicated to literacy work, and she recommended the committee treat literacy as an interim topic that covers remediation, teacher prep connections, and the statute rewrite.
Committee members voiced agreement that K–3 literacy merits sustained attention and suggested the committee allocate time in the interim for a deep dive.
Ending: The committee acknowledged the literacy topic and indicated support for an interim study focused on statute review, screening and remediation, and workforce implications for teacher training and retention.
