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Wyoming education officials report gains, push for more Native curriculum resources

Select Committee on Tribal Relations · January 28, 2026
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Summary

Wyoming Department of Education briefed the Select Committee on Tribal Relations on assessment gains, implementation of Indian Ed for All, and a new social studies standards review; district leaders urged more resources, sustained teacher training and an office to coordinate Native curriculum supports.

Wyoming Department of Education officials told the Select Committee on Tribal Relations that districts in Fremont County show mixed but improving assessment results and that state efforts are under way to strengthen Native history and culture instruction statewide.

Nish Goikolea, chief policy officer for the department, said state standards, assessments and a five‑year accreditation process inform local curriculum and supports. Rob Black, the department's Native American liaison, highlighted an online repository of 22 resources for teaching tribal history and culture and described a Native American education conference in Riverton that drew 632 attendees.

Laurie Hernandez, director of standards and assessment, walked the panel through local YTOP and ACT results and said several Fremont districts are moving back toward or exceeding their pre‑pandemic performance. She described a 40‑member social studies standards review committee that the state board has convened and said the committee aims to deliver draft standards to the board by June.

District superintendents told the committee they are pursuing culturally relevant approaches and career and technical education (CTE) pathways that keep academic standards intact. "Our kids that have strong cultural identity — those are our kids that are successful," said Blake Bertram, superintendent of Fremont 14. He and others urged integrating core academic standards into CTE tracks so students can both gain vocational skills and leave with a diploma.

Speakers also said implementation of Indian Ed for All (statute adopted in 2017) remains uneven: 18 of 48 districts completed a recent WDE survey about implementation, and respondents asked for more resources, professional development and guest speakers from tribal communities. Department staff said a Native American education cabinet formed in 2024 is creating an essential understandings framework and is considering a potential office of Indian education to curate resources, training and consultants for all districts.

What happens next: WDE will continue the social studies standards review and said additional resources, professional development and targeted supports will be part of the department's work to help districts implement the Indian Ed for All standards.