Perusing the shelves at Gannett Peak Elementary. School libraries are included in Wyoming’s draft ESSA plan.
The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) today announced the release of Wyoming’s draft Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State Plan for a 45-day public comment period. After much work on the part of the library community, school libraries are included in Wyoming’s ESSA plan. Among the references:
[su_quote]The WDE will encourage districts to review and develop or enhance effective school library programs to provide opportunities for students to develop digital and information literacy skills. School libraries that offer up-to-date print and digital resources help improve academic achievement.[/su_quote]
During the months this plan was drafted, school librarians and library supporters attended meetings and filled out surveys to provide their input. Wyoming State Librarian Jamie Markus and WSL School Library Consultant Paige Bredenkamp had numerous face-to-face conversations with WDE staff and participated in work group meetings. The end result after many iterations: school libraries are formally recognized as an essential component of Wyoming’s K-12 education system.
You can access the plan and submit comments through an online survey through June 8, 2017. You can also submit comments through public meetings or by mail. An online public meeting will take place on May 4 at 6:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to participate can register online. Additional public meetings are tentatively planned to take place on May 11 in Powell, May 18 in Riverton, and June 7 in Laramie.