CASPER, Wyo. — A majority of Wyoming residents responding to a statewide survey on education do not believe the state is adequately preparing students for the future. A leading issue, according to respondents, is the lack of life skills taught in the classroom.
More than 7,000 Wyoming residents, including parents, guardians, school district employees and concerned citizens, participated in the online survey offered by Gov. Mark Gordon’s Reimagining and Innovating the Delivery of Education Advisory Group. The governor’s office reported the results of the survey today in a news release that also asked the public to attend listening sessions throughout the state in June and July.
Areas where respondents said the state was doing a good job of preparing students for the future included “learning outcomes and expectations,” “class content and structure.” and “STEM subjects” as themes. Respondents also said the state could improve “learning outcomes and expectations” and “class content and structure,” and said Wyoming schools could be doing a better job of preparing students with life skills, the release states.
Spending and appropriately allocating resources was a common theme among respondents offering a way to improve education, according to the survey results.
Gordon noted the survey is an early part of the work of his advisory group, whose goal is to develop policy proposals to address some of the needs identified. The upcoming listening sessions will build on and expand the survey results, officials said.
“This report is a great place to start reimagining education because it is constructive feedback, not an indictment of our schools. It’s always good to take an honest look at our performance and I’m deeply appreciative of the number of Wyomingites that are engaged in this effort,” Gordon said. “This is a chance for us to gather information and identify opportunities about how and where we can improve.
“I encourage anyone who has taken the time to make their thoughts known to continue their involvement through the community listening sessions,” he added. “And for those who have not, this is an opportunity for you to now get involved.”
The Executive Summary and complete results from the survey, along with additional information about the upcoming listening sessions, are available on the RIDE Advisory group website, ride.wyo.gov.
A listening session in Casper is scheduled for July 20–21. Click here to register.
