The Wyoming Educational Bankruptcy Act establishes a legal framework for declaring a school district as "educationally bankrupt" based on specific performance criteria. Effective May 1, 2027, the state superintendent of public instruction or parents and guardians representing a certain percentage of students can petition the district court to determine if a school district meets the criteria for educational bankruptcy. These criteria include a significant percentage of students scoring below basic levels on statewide assessments in English language arts and mathematics. The act also outlines the responsibilities of the state superintendent, the district court, and the appointed educational bankruptcy trustees, including the authority to manage the school district and make necessary changes to improve student performance.

Additionally, the act modifies existing laws related to teacher certification, allowing for the revocation or suspension of a teacher's certification for engaging in fraudulent practices during statewide assessments. The act limits the number of school districts that can be declared educationally bankrupt to six statewide, with no more than three districts per year. It also mandates that the state superintendent report on the status of school districts qualifying for educational bankruptcy and make recommendations to the legislature. The act is effective immediately upon completion of all necessary legislative processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-2-304, 21-2-802