There are very few issues – if
any – nearly all lawmakers in the Wyoming State Legislature can agree on. The
one exception would likely be that we all want Wyoming students to have the
very best education possible.
This means providing world class primary
education, well-rounded curriculum, engaging classes, safe environments
conducive to learning and the opportunity for vocational and technical training.
No matter the economic climate, these shared goals remain a top priority for
legislators in Cheyenne.
Education is perhaps the single greatest
investment our state can make. Giving the next generation of Wyoming leaders
the resources and tools they need to compete in a global economy will pay
dividends for our state in the not-too-distant future. This requires not only
an investment of dollars, but an investment of our time and talents in prioritizing
education.
And invest we have. Over the last two
decades, since the Wyoming Supreme Court definitively put the responsibility
for K-12 education operations and capital construction in the states’ hands,
the Wyoming State legislature has invested over $22.3 billion in education. Wyoming
school districts will have received over $19 billion for K-12 operations and $3.3
billion has been appropriated for the maintenance and construction of school
district facilities.
We’ve supported the University of Wyoming and
community colleges, grown scholarship funds, prioritized early childhood
education and expanded vocational and technical training opportunities. We’ve
opened more than 24 new schools and renovated hundreds more, making great
progress on the large backlog of school facility projects across the state.
We’ve also worked to protect education for
the future by creating the School Foundation Reserve Account to shield school
funding from losses of mineral revenue.
As a result, Wyoming has consistently ranked
as one of the top investors on education funding per student. In recent years,
Wyoming has spent approximately $15,700 per student, making us the seventh best
state in the nation in terms of education spending.
What’s more, Wyoming recently ranked eighth
in the nation in Education Week’s 20th annual report card on education
quality. The 2016 rankings are based on three key factors: the
Chance-for-Success Index, K-12 Achievement Index and school finances.
When state coffers have been flush, the
legislature spent funds judiciously and strategically on education and school
facilities. We made this a top priority, and rightfully so.
Facing revenue shortfalls that will likely
continue for several years, the state legislature has had to slow increases in
expenditures and, in some cases, trim funding, across the board. The state
legislature has never been a borrowing operation. We live within our means,
just as Wyoming families have to do every single day.
However, education remains a top priority for
lawmakers and its stability remains paramount. While we simply cannot afford to
support every single request, we’re continuing to fund our school facilities,
community colleges, the University of Wyoming and many critical educational
programs at levels we can sustain for the long-term.
Our commitment to education goes beyond
dollars. There are several bills still under consideration in the House and
Senate that would help improve and expand our state’s education system.
House Bill 80, Community College
Recalibration, aims to provide a stable source of funding for Wyoming's
community colleges based on realistic enrollment levels. Wyoming’s community
colleges enroll 62% of the state’s college enrollment - the highest level of
two-year college participation in the nation. Ensuring our community colleges
have a steady source of funding they can rely on is critical.
With the goal of providing diverse educational
and training opportunities for Wyoming Youth, Senate File 11 would extend the Wyoming
National Guard Youth Challenge program through 2025.
While our funding opportunities are not what
they have been in the past few years, one thing has not changed: the Wyoming
State Legislature’s commitment to arming our young people with the education
and experience they need to be successful. A strong educational foundation
opens doors for our citizens, adds value to our local economies and enriches
our communities.
Drew
Perkins, Senate Vice President
Tim
Stubson, House Speaker Pro Tempore
Hans
Hunt, House Majority Whip
