District to rewrite graduation framework after Wyoming revises Chapter 10 standards
January 11, 2025 | Laramie County School District #2, School Districts, Wyoming
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Laramie County School District #2 trustees heard a detailed briefing Jan. 8 on statewide changes to Chapter 10 academic standards and agreed to begin drafting a new district graduation framework for incoming ninth-graders.
Justin Perintoni, district staff member, told the committee the State Board of Education completed revisions to Chapter 10 based on revised standards. “Chapter 10 was recently finalized with the State Board of Education, based off of standards that were revised this past summer,” he said.
Perintoni said the state reduced the number of assessed standards so statewide tests could be shorter, but the revisions change how districts must provide access. “We are expected to have every kid have access to them and have multiple opportunities to pass them,” he said, citing earth science and Algebra II as examples of course areas affected.
Why it matters: The district must reconcile the new state expectations with its current graduation policy and course design. Perintoni recommended drafting a new IKF that reflects the state changes for next year’s freshmen while preserving the current IKF for students who began high school under the existing rules.
Board members and staff discussed implementation steps and policy safeguards. Perintoni noted an existing local policy (JOA) limits seniors from dropping below six classes, which he described as a “fail safe” to prevent loss of course access while the IKF is revised. He recommended the district maintain the current IKF for this year’s freshmen, sophomores and juniors and begin writing a new IKF for next year’s ninth graders.
Trustees raised procedural and policy questions. One board member asked whether an IKF can become stable; Perintoni said the district might split IKF issues into smaller policies so individual parts (for example, Hathaway-related items) can be updated without rewriting an entire graduation policy every time state rules change. Board members also discussed Hathaway scholarship-related performance measures (GPA, ACT, CTE access) and the legislative environment; Perintoni said bills affecting Hathaway could arrive during the session and influence district decisions.
Perintoni said the district will convene content-area teacher groups — especially math and science — and the Curriculum Coordination Committee (CCC) next week to plan coursework and pathways so freshmen can access the newly required standards beginning next school year. He recommended the board review drafts and discuss policy changes in coming meetings.
Ending: The board did not approve a policy change at the meeting but directed staff to begin the IKF drafting process and to return with proposals and stakeholder engagement plans.
Justin Perintoni, district staff member, told the committee the State Board of Education completed revisions to Chapter 10 based on revised standards. “Chapter 10 was recently finalized with the State Board of Education, based off of standards that were revised this past summer,” he said.
Perintoni said the state reduced the number of assessed standards so statewide tests could be shorter, but the revisions change how districts must provide access. “We are expected to have every kid have access to them and have multiple opportunities to pass them,” he said, citing earth science and Algebra II as examples of course areas affected.
Why it matters: The district must reconcile the new state expectations with its current graduation policy and course design. Perintoni recommended drafting a new IKF that reflects the state changes for next year’s freshmen while preserving the current IKF for students who began high school under the existing rules.
Board members and staff discussed implementation steps and policy safeguards. Perintoni noted an existing local policy (JOA) limits seniors from dropping below six classes, which he described as a “fail safe” to prevent loss of course access while the IKF is revised. He recommended the district maintain the current IKF for this year’s freshmen, sophomores and juniors and begin writing a new IKF for next year’s ninth graders.
Trustees raised procedural and policy questions. One board member asked whether an IKF can become stable; Perintoni said the district might split IKF issues into smaller policies so individual parts (for example, Hathaway-related items) can be updated without rewriting an entire graduation policy every time state rules change. Board members also discussed Hathaway scholarship-related performance measures (GPA, ACT, CTE access) and the legislative environment; Perintoni said bills affecting Hathaway could arrive during the session and influence district decisions.
Perintoni said the district will convene content-area teacher groups — especially math and science — and the Curriculum Coordination Committee (CCC) next week to plan coursework and pathways so freshmen can access the newly required standards beginning next school year. He recommended the board review drafts and discuss policy changes in coming meetings.
Ending: The board did not approve a policy change at the meeting but directed staff to begin the IKF drafting process and to return with proposals and stakeholder engagement plans.
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