'We mean business': WDE announces Language and Literacy Initiative
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From left, Annie McGlothlin, Chandel Pine, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, Kari Roden, Claudia Ladd and Megan Hefor a photo at the announcement of the Wyoming Department of Education’s new statewide Language and Literacy Initiative in the auditorium insCapitol extension on Wednesday. McGlothlin, Roden, Chandel and Hesser represent WYO Right to Read, one of the partners in the initiative.
CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Department of Education announced a statewide Language and Literacy Initiativeon Wednesday, aimed at addressing ongoing challenges students are facing when it comes to reading and writing.
Though Wyoming has seen notable improvements in English Language Arts testing proficiencies in the past year,returning to pre-pandemic numbers, several districts are still struggling, State Superintendent of PublicInstruction Megan Degenfelder said during a news conference announcing the initiative.
Wyoming State Superintendent of Public InstructionMegan Degenfelder announces a statewide Languageand Literacy Initiative in the auditorium inside theCapitol extension on Wednesday. Partners include:Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Education Committee, theWyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board, theUniversity of Wyoming College of Education, theUniversity of Wyoming Literacy Research Center andClinic, University of Wyoming Division ofCommunication Disorders-Speech Language Pathology, University of Wyoming Early ChildhoodEducation, the Wyoming Community CollegeCommission, WYO Right to Read and Cox Campus.
Milo Gladstein/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
“There remain children that are under-identified or not identified atall for their reading difficulties and go unserved,” Degenfelder said.“Wyoming does not settle for good; we strive for great. And so, nomatter the progress we have seen, we still have much, much work todo.”
The initiative partners WDE with the state Legislature’s Joint Education Committee, the Wyoming CommunityCollege Commission, WYO Right to Read, Cox Campus and several entities at the University of Wyoming, toaddress the many facets impacting student literacy.
“Not one entity, not one group, not one politician, not one person can move the needle fully on literacy,”Degenfelder said. “It takes us all.”
Legislation
A major facet of this initiative is ensuring state statute supports the efforts of the new coalition, Degenfelder said.
Education Committee co-Chairwoman Sen. Wendy Shuler, R-Evanston, noted that though last year legislatorsworked on draft legislation to address literacy, they “just didn’t have it right.” She acknowledged that the state hasroom to improve and encouraged attendees to share their expertise with the committee in November.
Sen. Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston, announces astatewide Language and Literacy Initiative in theauditorium inside the Capitol extension onWednesday. Partners include: Wyoming Legislature'sJoint Education Committee, the Wyoming ProfessionalTeaching Standards Board, the University of WyomingCollege of Education, the University of WyomingLiteracy Research Center and Clinic, University ofWyoming Division of Communication Disorders-Speech Language Pathology, University of WyomingEarly Childhood Education, the Wyoming CommunityCollege Commission, WYO Right to Read and CoxCampus.on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.
Milo Gladstein/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
The committee is working on a draft bill that would implement newreporting requirements, evidence-based reading assessments,intervention programs and professional development in evidence-based literacy instruction for educators.
“I hope some of you here in the room will come and testify and give usyour input and your ideas about how we can do a better job withwhatever draft legislation we come up with,” Shuler said. “Because wewant to get it right.”
Shuler and Degenfelder are not the only partners invested inlegislation. WYO Right to Read, a local nonprofit dedicated to servingchildren with dyslexia and related reading difficulties, has played amajor role in developing draft legislation to present to the committee.
“Today’s announcement represents more than a new initiative,” WYO Right to Read board member Kari Rodensaid Wednesday. “It is a promise, a promise that reading is a right in Wyoming and not a privilege.”
WYO Right to Read has assisted in drafting the legislation that the committee will work on in November. Theirdraft is intended to ensure that students receive structured and evidence-based literacy instruction, withprovisions to better accommodate students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.
“For too long, too many children have struggled in silence, negatively affecting their self-esteem and health, notbecause they lack potential, but because they lacked access to evidence-based instruction,” Roden said.
These initiatives also provide for grant support, certifications and training for teachers, as they learn how toimplement these new teaching strategies.
“It empowers our teachers with the science of reading and structural literacy training, ensuring every student,including those with dyslexia and other language-based difficulties, has the opportunity to thrive,” Roden said.
When asked where the initiative stands should the Legislature not pass the supporting bills, Degenfelder said thatthe coalition will continue to work within existing legislation.
“We’ll make sure that these initiatives move further,” Degenfelder said. “But I feel very confident in our partners inthe Legislature recognizing the importance of this effort.”
Additional resources
The partnerships aren’t only geared toward legislative change. Partners in this initiative are also supporting theprofessional development of current teachers.
The department has partnered with Cox Campus to provide free professional development through courses, andwith the John P. Ellbogen Foundation to provide a language and literacy fellowship.
The Ellbogen Foundation pledged $16,500 to provide the fellowship for up to 100 teachers, according to Degenfelder.
Additionally, the WDE recently received a $24,453,007 Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant,to be distributed over the next five years from the U.S. Department of Education.
At least 95% of funds from the grant are required to be subgranted directly to districts and early childhoodprograms, with allocations across birth through kindergarten entry, grades K-5 and grades 6-12.
Current and future educators will also have access to educational programs and certificates through theUniversity of Wyoming and the Professional Teaching Standards Board.
Measuring success
Nationwide, reading proficiency decreased from 2022 to 2024, according to the Nation’s Report Card. Thoseliteracy rates are essential, as reading is directly linked to academic and career success, Degenfelder said.
Children who can’t read at grade level by third grade are less likely to graduate high school, and are more likely tostruggle in their careers and personal lives, but literacy efforts are important after that point, as well.
Though Wyoming fourth-graders rank third in proficiency nationwide, the state’s eighth-graders only rank 16th.The average also doesn’t well represent the districts that are struggling with single-digit proficiency rates,Degenfelder said.
The success of the initiative, with its many lofty goals and moving parts, will largely be monitored through futurestate test scores.
“We’re making sure in our effort, particularly with our federal grant, we can do a better job of making sure thatwe’re measuring those outcomes,” Degenfelder said.
That doesn’t just mean accepting a higher average as success, Degenfelder said. The WDE is looking at wherestruggling schools are improving, where they may need more support and comparing that to well-performingdistricts.
“This is not just another initiative,” Degenfelder said. “This is a promise, we are coming together, and we meanbusiness when it comes to literacy for the children in the state of Wyoming.”
Ivy Secrest is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s criminal justice/public safety reporter. She can be reached at 307-631-2709 orisecrest@wyomingnews.com.
