The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) seeks educator input to provide guidance for the selection of the Science Performance Standards.

Previously, all Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) were deemed the Performance Standards to measure student proficiency. The State Board of Education asked the Science Standards Review Committee to identify a subset of PLDs to be the Performance Standards, on which students will be assessed through the District Assessment System.

Content Standards are what students should know and be able to do and Performance Standards are how well they should demonstrate that understanding. Performance Standards will be tied to the Content Standards on which districts are expected to assess all students through the district assessment system.

For Educator Input on Science Performance Standards:

1. Review the 2016 Wyoming Science Standards, adopted on September 23, 2016, and the 2021 Wyoming Science Assessment Blueprint, approved on February 28, 2020.

2. Download and use the Notes Document during the review process. This will make it easier for you to enter your responses into the survey. (optional)

3. Complete the Performance Standards Educator Survey.

4. This survey closes at 11:59 p.m. on October 5, 2020.

5. The input collected on the Performance Standards will be shared with the Science Standards Review Committee to provide guidance when making determinations on the Science Performance Standards.

Important Information for Understanding this New Addition to the Process:

1. Previously all Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) were deemed the Performance Standards to measure student proficiency. The State Board of Education asked the Science Standards Review Committee to identify a subset of PLDs to be the Performance Standards, on which students will be assessed through the District Assessment System.

2. Performance Standards (PS) are the standards all students are expected to learn and be assessed on through the district assessment system. They specify the specific degree of understanding or demonstration of the knowledge and/or skill for a particular content standard. As such, PS employ clear action verbs and describes “How good is good enough.” Districts are expected to give students multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency on the Performance Standards and provide appropriate supports for student success.

3. Once adopted, the Performance Standards will accompany the previously adopted 2016 Wyoming Science Standards. Performance Standards will be tied to the Content Standards on which districts are expected to assess all students through the district assessment system.

For more information on the content of the standards, contact Shannon Wachowski, Science Consultant, at 307-777-8753 or shannon.wachowski@wyo.gov. For all other questions, contact Barb Marquer, Standards Supervisor, at 307-777-5506 or barb.marquer@wyo.gov.