Wyo. Code R. 206-0003-3
State Board of Education
Effective Date: 11/14/2025 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 206.0003.3.11142025
Section 1. Authority. These rules are promulgated pursuant to W.S. 21-2-304(a)(i) – (iv) and W.S. 21-3-110(a)(i) and (xxv).
Section 2. Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(a) “Assessment,” including competency-based equivalency examination, means an ongoing process that includes collecting, synthesizing, and interpreting information about what students know (knowledge) and are able to do (skills).
(b) “Cognitive Complexity” means the type and level of thinking required to successfully achieve the standard.
(c) “Competency-based” means a progression of learning based on demonstrations of learning rather than seat time, emphasizing student agency, flexible pathways, and personalized support.
(d) “Coursework” means a progression of experiences, both traditional, as in time bound, and competency-based, as in a comparable amount of content learned, titled as “courses” that are aligned to the state and graduation standards providing students with a quality education as described under W.S. 21-2-304(a)(ii).
(e) “Functional Equivalent” means a course that is aligned to the performance standards and is as rigorous as or more rigorous than a college- or career-preparatory course taken in high school.
(f) “Graduation Requirements,” or high school diploma requirements, means successful completion, evidenced by passing grades or competency-based equivalency examinations, of a program of study aligned to the state and graduation standards as required by this chapter and required within the graduation policy of each public school district in the state.
(g) “Graduation Standards” means the competencies listed in Section 3 of this chapter.
(h) “Learning Progressions” means locally defined, increasingly complex, descriptions of competency aligned to the graduation standards.
(i) “State Standards” means the Wyoming Content and Performance Standards that define what students shall be provided the opportunity to learn and apply across the ten (10) content areas as described in W.S. 21-9-101(b) and set by the State Board of Education in Chapter 10 Education Rules.
Section 3: Graduation Standards. The State Board of Education establishes these
graduation standards as expectations of what students will be able to do as they progress through the educational system, culminating in graduation. Districts shall implement educational programs that provide learning experiences that meaningfully incorporate these graduation standards and provide opportunities for students to demonstrate competency, as determined by the district's learning progressions, in each. The Wyoming high school graduate has demonstrated:
(a) mastery and application of foundational knowledge and skills and the ability to transfer learning in one context to new learning in more complex or novel situations or different contents areas; and,
(b) at a minimum, competency in one or more of the following;
(i) think critically and creatively to solve complex problems,
(ii) communicate effectively to various purposes, audiences, and mediums,
(iii) identify and use credible sources of information to build knowledge and make decisions,
(iv) demonstrate strong interpersonal and collaboration skills,
(v) demonstrate curiosity, self-awareness, resilience, and a growth mindset,
(vi) practice effective work habits, including organization, time management, attention to detail, and follow through.
(a) Graduation requirements for earning a high school diploma from any high school within any school district of this state shall include successful completion of the following components as evidenced by passing grades or by successful performance on competency-based equivalency examinations:
(i) Coursework taken for the attainment of a high school diploma shall include in-classroom or out-of-classroom learning experiences that equip students to learn, work, contribute, and thrive in society.
(ii) Coursework for the attainment of a high school diploma shall be aligned to the performance and graduation standards in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) and, at a minimum, include the following:
(A) Four (4) school years of English or for successful performance on competency-based equivalency examinations;
(B) Three (3) school years of mathematics or for successful performance on competency-based equivalency examinations;
(C) Three (3) school years of science, one (1) year of which may be a computer science course or for successful performance on competency-based equivalency examinations and;
(D) Three (3) school years of social studies, including history, American government, and economic systems and institutions, provided business instructors may instruct classes on economic systems and institutions or for successful performance on competency-based equivalency examinations.
(E) Courses taken before grade nine (9) used to satisfy high school diploma requirements shall be aligned to the state standards in grades nine (9) through twelve (12).
(F) Functional equivalents may be used to satisfy the coursework described in this subsection. The Department may verify appropriate alignment of the functional equivalents to the performance standards in grades nine (9) through twelve (12).
(iii) Satisfactorily passing an examination on the principles of the constitution of the United States and the state of Wyoming.
(iv) Evidence of performance on the district assessment system, pursuant W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xxiv) and in accordance with the Chapter 4 State Board of Education Rules, which includes all coursework taken for the attainment of a high school diploma.
(b) Each local school district shall establish high school diploma requirements that shall be reflected in policy and related documents as appropriate. The district’s policy shall include:
(i) A description of the district’s definition of passing grades for any coursework which may be taken to satisfy high school diploma requirements including levels of successful performance on graduation standards.
(ii) A description of the process by which successful performance on a competency-based equivalency examination may be used to satisfy coursework, as defined in this chapter;
(iii) Documentation of the options available for students to demonstrate that they have met the graduation standards established in Section 3 of these rules;
(iv) A requirement that students demonstrate satisfactory performance on an examination of the principles of the constitution of the United States and the State of Wyoming as required by W.S. 21-9-102;
(v) Description of the approach adopted by the district to assist students in developing student success plans, which includes coursework and opportunities for students to meet the state performance and graduation standards and student’s career interests;
(vi) Documentation of learning progressions to monitor student progress on graduation standards. Documentation must include, at a minimum, a process for mapping learning progressions to the graduation standards or documentation must include, at a minimum, a description of rubrics used to measure progress toward the graduation standards;
(vii) An assurance that academic credit toward the district’s high school diploma requirements will be awarded for the successful completion of any course offered under a qualifying post-secondary education program specified under W.S. 21-20-201; and
(viii) A description of any additional requirements that a student must successfully complete at the discretion of the district.
(c) The district shall maintain and publish a list of eligible coursework to satisfy the high school diploma requirements, including the minimum graduation requirements established in these rules. Eligible coursework shall be aligned to the state and graduation standards established for high school and require a logical sequence and the progression of instruction aligned with state and graduation standards from one school year to the next. This list shall not be required to include post-secondary courses.
(a) Within twelve (12) months of the effective date of these rules, each local district shall submit to the State Board of Education, through the Department, its revised policy establishing high school diploma requirements for review and consultation. Within one hundred and twenty (120) days of receiving a local district’s high school diploma requirements, the State Board of Education shall identify any areas in which the district does not comply with state-established requirements and consult with the district on any findings.
(b) Any modification to a district’s high school diploma requirements, including a copy of the revised requirements, shall be included in the district’s November 1 report required under W.S. 21-3-110(xxv) and Section 4(c) of this chapter.
(c) Implementation of these rules shall be applicable beginning with ~~for~~ the incoming ninth grade class for the 2027/2028 school year.