Wyomingites asked for input on the future of education

The majority of Wyoming residents feel our schools don’t prepare children for the future, according to Governor Mark Gordon’s education advisory group.

A public survey that garnered over 7000 responses – including 326 from Crook County – saw 59% of people answer “no” to the question. School district employees were the most likely to believe the way Wyoming educates its kids prepares them for the future at 48%, followed by parents and guardians at 44%, while concerned citizens were the least likely at just 29%.

Just 33% of former and current students answered “yes”.

The survey was administered by the Reimagining and Innovating the Delivery of Education (RIDE) Advisory Group as an early part of its work to improve Wyoming’s K-12 education.

The information will be built on during upcoming community listening sessions, with the goal of developing policy proposals.

According to the report published last week, the surveys themselves have already revealed common themes in how Wyomingites think education needs to improve. For example, a quarter of people who didn’t feel education prepares kids for the future mentioned “learning life skills” as an important way to improve, while a fifth appeared to feel that teaching outcomes are based on test scores instead of learning and understanding.

On the other hand, those who believe Wyoming does prepare its kids for the future often mention a well-rounded and broad education as a reason why.

Respondents in both groups meanwhile mentioned that spending resources and allocating them appropriately is important, as is a focus on jobs and industry.

Those who took the survey were also asked for their innovative ideas towards reimagining education, which led to a number of common themes. The top of this list was broadening the methods used to deliver teaching, followed by improved access to technology and virtual learning.

Innovative instruction also made the list, as well as a greater focus on mental health.

“[RIDE] was ecstatic at the great response to this survey. As a group that is tasked to study and develop recommendations for elevating Wyoming’s primary and secondary education system into a position of national leadership, the data collected will be extremely useful to that effort,” states the report.

“More specifically, the information collected through this survey will inform RIDE’s final recommendations. In the coming months, RIDE will be hosting listening sessions around the state to help further refine its recommendations.”

All stakeholders in Wyoming are invited to attend the session, including parents, students, educators, business, industry and other interested people. Discussions will build on the results of the survey and seek to refine the information collected so far.

“I encourage anyone who has taken the time to make their thoughts known to continue their involvement through the community listening sessions,” said Gordon. “And for those who have not, this is an opportunity for you to now get involved.”

The closest listening session will take place at Gillette College on July 19-20. Participants can register through the governor’s website at governor.wyo.gov.