2010 Wyoming Statutes
Title 21 - Education
Chapter 9 - Courses Of Study, Textbooks, Supplies

CHAPTER 9 - COURSES OF STUDY, TEXTBOOKS, SUPPLIES

 

ARTICLE 1 - COURSES OF STUDY

 

21-9-101. Educational programs for schools; standards; core of knowledge and skills; special needs programs; class size requirements; cocurricular activities.

 

(a) The board of trustees of each school district within the state shall cause the schools under its jurisdiction to provide an educational program in accordance with uniform standards defined under this section and rules and regulations promulgated by the state board of education pursuant to W.S. 21-2-304(a).

 

(b) Each school district within the state shall provide educational programs sufficient to meet uniform student content and performance standards at the level established by the state board of education in the following areas of knowledge and skills:

 

(i) Common core of knowledge:

 

(A) Reading/language arts;

 

(B) Social studies;

 

(C) Mathematics;

 

(D) Science;

 

(E) Fine arts and performing arts;

 

(F) Physical education;

 

(G) Health and safety;

 

(H) Humanities;

 

(J) Career/vocational education;

 

(K) Foreign cultures and languages;

 

(M) Applied technology;

 

(N) Government and civics including state and federal constitutions pursuant to W.S. 21-9-102.

 

(ii) For grades one (1) through eight (8), reading, writing and mathematics shall be emphasized under the common core of knowledge specified under paragraph (b)(i) of this section;

 

(iii) Common core of skills:

 

(A) Problem solving;

 

(B) Interpersonal communications;

 

(C) Keyboarding and computer applications;

 

(D) Critical thinking;

 

(E) Creativity;

 

(F) Life skills, including personal financial management skills.

 

(c) In addition to subsection (b) of this section, each school district within this state shall provide programs designed for the special needs of those student populations specified within this subsection. Programs under this subsection shall be provided and shall identify special student populations in accordance with rules and regulations of the state board of education. The state board shall monitor the proportion of students in each special needs category, compared to available regional averages. Special needs student populations include:

 

(i) Children with disabilities evaluated in accordance with rules and regulations of the state board as having intellectual disability, hearing impairments including deafness, speech or language impairments, visual impairments including blindness, serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, specific learning disabilities, deafness and blindness or other multiple disabilities, and who, because of the impairments, need special education and related services; and

 

(ii) Gifted and talented students identified by professionals and other qualified individuals as having outstanding abilities, who are capable of high performance and whose abilities, talents and potential require qualitatively differentiated educational programs and services beyond those normally provided by the regular school program in order to realize their contribution to self and society.

 

(d) In addition to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, each school district within this state shall endeavor to maintain when practicable, in kindergarten through grade three (3) within the district, an average class size of no more than twenty (20) students per teacher, excluding children with disabilities who spend more than fifty percent (50%) of their time outside of regular classroom instruction.

 

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit school districts from establishing cocurricular activity programs which have as their purpose to provide educational experiences not otherwise provided by the local district. The legislature specifically encourages school districts to establish programs of this type.

 

(f) It is the intent of the legislature that the funding mechanism established by law for schools encourage school districts to achieve the goal of reduced class sizes.

 

(g) Not later than the 2002-2003 school year, all school districts shall provide instruction in foreign languages to students in kindergarten through grade 2 in accordance with standards promulgated by the state board.

 

21-9-102. Instruction in state and federal constitutions required; satisfactory examination a prerequisite to graduation.

 

All schools and colleges in this state that are supported in any manner by public funds shall give instruction in the essentials of the United States constitution and the constitution of the state of Wyoming, including the study of and devotion to American institution and ideals, and no student shall receive a high school diploma, associate degree or baccalaureate degree without satisfactorily passing an examination on the principles of the constitution of the United States and the state of Wyoming. The instruction shall be given for at least three (3) years in kindergarten through grade eight (8) and for one (1) year each in the secondary and college grades.

 

21-9-103. Penalty for failure to carry out requirements of W.S. 21-9-102.

 

Willful failure on the part of any school or college administrator or instructor to carry out the requirements of W.S. 21-9-102 shall be sufficient cause for the removal of such person from his position.

 

ARTICLE 2 - FREE TEXTBOOKS AND SUPPLIES

 

21-9-201. Boards of trustees to purchase and lend to pupils; responsibility of pupils; sale of surplus.

 

 

(a) The board of trustees of each school district within the state shall purchase all textbooks necessary to the operation of the schools under its jurisdiction. Each such board may in addition purchase such supplies as it deems necessary. Such textbooks and supplies shall be held as the property of the district and shall be loaned to pupils free of any charge; provided, the pupils shall be held responsible for damage to, loss of, or failure to return such books and supplies except those that by their nature are expended during the course of study.

 

(b) The board may sell to any pupil or parent, at its cost, any surplus books or supplies it has purchased and which such pupil or parent desires to purchase for his own use.

 

21-9-202. Repealed By Laws 2002, Ch. 19, 1.

 

21-9-203. Purchase and use of eye protective devices.

 

 

(a) Every teacher and every pupil except nonparticipating visitors, in any public school participating in any course involving the following: (1) hot molten metals; (2) milling, sawing, turning, shaping, cutting or stamping of any solid materials with stationary power equipment; (3) gas or electric arc welding; (4) caustic or explosive materials; or (5) any other material or activity which creates a substantial risk of harm to the eyes is required to wear industrial quality eye protective devices meeting the standards of the American Standard Safety Code for head, eye, and respiratory protection, Z2.1-1959, promulgated by the American Standards Association, Incorporated.

 

(b) The board of trustees of each school district shall purchase such eye protective devices and cause them to be available free of charge to all pupils and teachers involved in the activities listed above; provided, that the board of trustees shall not be required to furnish protective corrective lenses.