CHEYENNE (WNE) — As the school year wraps up, the Wyoming Department of Education has shared an update regarding the WY-TOPP math and science scores from this spring.

This year, official math and science scores will not be released until early fall. 

Over the last three years, as part of an initiative to better support teachers, Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder and the State Board of Education have been working to prioritize and reduce state content and performance standards across seven content areas. In total, the standards are expected to be reduced by roughly 60%, with WY-TOPP testing times already showing an initial reduction.

With the reduction of math and science standards complete, an update of the assessment blueprints was also required. Because this spring was the first time students took the new tests, the WDE must undertake a typical standard-setting process in which cut scores are determined by a panel of educators.

In July, a team of Wyoming teachers and education experts will meet to review the test questions and student data. Its goal is to ensure the scoring system is accurate, fair and matches expectations. 

This event will also need to occur next summer, after WDE transitions to the new assessment vendor. Schools typically share Individual Student Reports with parents in the fall. Districts will have those reports by the end of October.

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