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, with sufficient support, can petition the district court to determine if a school district meets the criteria for educational bankruptcy. The criteria include a significant percentage of students scoring below basic levels on statewide assessments in English language arts and mathematics across various grade levels. 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 bill modifies existing laws related to teacher certification, allowing for revocation or suspension of certification for fraudulent practices related to statewide assessments. It also includes provisions for the state board of education to implement a consistent statewide assessment system, ensuring that modifications do not substantially affect assessment results used for determining educational bankruptcy. 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. The act is effective immediately upon completion of all necessary legislative processes.

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