State Education Agency Grants 22 Waivers

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Department of Education has granted waivers to each of the 22 school districts that asked to be excused from the mandated 16-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio in grades K-3 for the 2012-13 school year.

Agency interim director Jim Rose says almost every district seeking a waiver cited a lack of classroom space to accommodate the additional faculty and classes needed to comply with the law.

The state Legislature passed a law in 2011 that school districts must maintain an average student-to-teacher ratio of not greater than 16-to-1 in kindergarten through third grade.

But districts can ask the state Education Department to waive the requirement for various reasons.