§ 21-9-101 — Educational programs for schools; standards; core of knowledge and skills; special needs programs; class size requirements; cocurricular activities

(a) The board of trustees of each school district within
the state shall cause the schools under its jurisdiction to
provide an educational program in accordance with uniform
standards defined under this section and rules and regulations
promulgated by the state board of education pursuant to W.S.
21-2-304(a).
(b) Each school district within the state shall provide
educational programs sufficient to meet uniform student content
and performance standards at the level established by the state
board of education in the following areas of knowledge and
skills:
(i) Common core of knowledge:
(A) Reading/language arts;
(B) Social studies;
(C) Mathematics;
(D) Science;
(E) Fine arts and performing arts;
(F) Physical education;
(G) Health and safety;
(H) Humanities;
(J) Career and technical education;
(K) World cultures and languages;
(M) Repealed by Laws 2018, ch. 123, § 2.
(N) Government and civics including state and
federal constitutions pursuant to W.S. 21-9-102;
(O) Computer science.
(ii) For grades one (1) through eight (8), reading,
writing and mathematics shall be emphasized under the common
core of knowledge specified under paragraph (b)(i) of this
section;
(iii) Common core of skills:
(A) Problem solving;
(B) Interpersonal communications;
(C) Computational thinking and computer
applications;
(D) Critical thinking;
(E) Creativity;
(F) Life skills, including personal financial
management skills.
(c) In addition to subsection (b) of this section, each
school district within this state shall provide programs
designed for the special needs of those student populations
specified within this subsection. Programs under this
subsection shall be provided and shall identify special student
populations in accordance with rules and regulations of the
state board of education. The state board shall monitor the
proportion of students in each special needs category, compared
to available regional averages. Special needs student
populations include:
(i) Children with disabilities evaluated in
accordance with rules and regulations of the state board as
having intellectual disability, hearing impairments including
deafness, speech or language impairments, visual impairments
including blindness, serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic
impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health
impairments, specific learning disabilities, deafness and
blindness or other multiple disabilities, and who, because of
the impairments, need special education and related services;
and
(ii) Gifted and talented students identified by
professionals and other qualified individuals as having
outstanding abilities, who are capable of high performance and
whose abilities, talents and potential require qualitatively
differentiated educational programs and services beyond those
normally provided by the regular school program in order to
realize their contribution to self and society.
(d) In addition to subsections (b) and (c) of this
section, each school district within this state shall endeavor
to maintain when practicable, in kindergarten through grade
three (3) within the district, an average class size of no more
than sixteen (16) students per teacher, excluding children with
disabilities who spend more than fifty percent (50%) of their
time outside of regular classroom instruction.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit
school districts from establishing cocurricular activity
programs which have as their purpose to provide educational
experiences not otherwise provided by the local district. The
legislature specifically encourages school districts to
establish programs of this type.
(f) It is the intent of the legislature that the funding
mechanism established by law for schools encourage school
districts to achieve the goal of reduced class sizes.
(g) Not later than the 2002-2003 school year, all school
districts shall provide instruction in world languages to
students in kindergarten through grade 2 in accordance with
standards promulgated by the state board.