Social Studies Standards Headline Thursday's State Board of Education Meeting
The Wyoming State Board of Education meets virtually this Thursday, October 15, and the proposed 2026 Social Studies Standards are expected to take center stage.
The Wyoming Department of Education is slated to present the informal public input it collected this summer and fall on the draft standards — the next milestone in a review that began when a 24-member committee started drafting in January and continued through public surveys and three virtual input sessions in September.
A key thread to watch: how the standards integrate Indian Education for All. On October 7, WDE officials and the Native American Education Cabinet briefed lawmakers on the Select Committee, outlining steps to weave tribal history, culture, and contributions into the standards. Public comment on the draft closed September 27, and the department says it will return synthesized feedback to the review committee before the board takes any final action — expected as early as November.
Some context: Wyoming last fully revised its social studies standards in 2014. A 2018 update added 26 supplemental standards focused on Native American content, and state law (21-4-602) continues to require that content in social studies instruction. The current review is the first full rewrite in over a decade.
What comes next: under the timeline the board approved in August, November brings proposed changes to Chapter 10 rules to fold in updated standards for social studies, English language arts, and career and technical education — followed by a formal public comment period running November through January.
Why it matters: content standards define what every Wyoming student is expected to learn. Social studies has historically drawn the most public attention of any subject-area review, and Thursday's presentation will show where the public landed.
The board meets virtually; agendas and access details are posted on the State Board of Education's meeting page ahead of the session.
Sources: Wyoming State Board of Education 2026/27 meeting schedule; SBE August 6, 2026 agenda packet (standards review timeline); Citizen Portal, October 7, 2026 (WDE and tribal cabinet briefing to the Select Committee); Wyoming Department of Education Standards Review page.
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Today's reporting is brought to you by Wolf Scholarship — the Wide Open Learning Fund, a Wyoming nonprofit providing need-based scholarships that send Wyoming K-12 students to educational travel programs, academic competitions, and leadership experiences. A proud sponsor of School Board News. Learn more at wolfscholarship.org.
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