A bill aimed at addressing reading proficiency challenges in Wyoming’s K-12 schools has advanced despite concerns from educators and school officials, Gillette News Record reports.
Senate File 179, titled “Fixing Reading Failure,” seeks to implement stricter protocols for identifying and assisting struggling readers. It also includes provisions for grade retention and penalties for districts that fail to follow the proposed literacy standards.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper, was prompted by findings from a recent school recalibration report highlighting low literacy rates among Wyoming students. According to Scott, the report indicated that many third and fourth graders were performing below proficiency in reading, a problem that could hinder their ability to function in a modern, high-tech economy.
The bill proposes a more rigorous framework for identifying struggling students and developing individualized reading plans. It emphasizes parental involvement and includes measures for grade retention in certain cases. Initially, the bill allowed parents to sue school districts for up to $10,000 if they were not informed of their child’s reading struggles or if an intervention plan was not developed or implemented. However, that provision was later removed through an amendment.
Despite Wyoming’s students scoring above national averages in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests, reading proficiency has seen a steady decline. In 2024, only 36% of Wyoming fourth graders scored at or above reading proficiency, down from 41% in 2017. The Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP) results also showed relatively stable scores compared to the previous year but remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Scott argued that the bill addresses a critical issue in the education system.
“We are still leaving way too many kids behind,” he said.
Although lawmakers and education experts acknowledged the urgency of the literacy problem, many expressed reservations about the bill’s approach. Tate Mullen, government relations director for the Wyoming Education Association, urged lawmakers to table the bill and study the issue further.
“This isn’t ready for prime time,” Mullen said. “This is something we need to take up in the interim so that experts can be in the room.”
Carbon County School District 1 Superintendent Mark Hamel agreed, emphasizing the importance of getting the issue right.
“This is a topic that it’s important we get correct,” he said.
Concerns were also raised about the potential negative effects of grade retention. Mullen cited research showing that retention often leads to higher dropout rates and is not a cost-effective solution for improving academic performance.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder also called for a comprehensive rewrite of the state’s literacy statutes instead of advancing the current bill. Scott incorporated much of Degenfelder’s suggested language through amendments, which added more specifics on identifying reading difficulties and intervention methods.
Sen. Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne, expressed urgency in addressing the issue.
“I just think the issue that we’re facing is so detrimental to our education system that it needs to be addressed,” he said.
After debate and amendments, the committee passed the bill with a 3-2 vote, with Senators Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, and Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston, opposing it. Rothfuss cautioned against rushing the bill forward, stating:
“It’s too important to just wing it.”
The bill now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.
