Wyoming is preparing to open applications for its new Education Savings Account (ESA) program on January 1, 2024, offering eligible families the chance to receive $6,000 annually per student for private school or homeschooling expenses, Casper Star Tribune reports.
To ensure smooth implementation, the state’s education department is seeking public input on proposed rules that will guide the program’s operation. Comments on these rules are due by December 11, 2024.
The ESA program is designed to assist families with incomes below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines—approximately $46,800 for a family of four. Students aged 4 and older, enrolled in preschool through grade 12, are eligible to apply for the funds, which can be used for a variety of educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, school uniforms, and online courses.
The proposed rules will establish critical details for the program’s implementation, such as the application process, the reimbursement system for eligible expenses, and the requirements for private schools and other education providers to become certified participants in the program. Additionally, the rules will address how school districts must handle participation in statewide standardized testing for ESA students, ensuring they are treated similarly to students in public schools.
While the program has garnered attention for supporting school choice in Wyoming, it has also faced controversy. The measure underwent significant changes during its journey through the state Legislature, being amended, revived, and partially vetoed by Governor Mark Gordon in March 2024. The governor’s veto was based on concerns about the program’s constitutionality, particularly in relation to the Wyoming Constitution’s prohibition on direct state funding to individuals except for the necessary support of the poor.
As the program moves forward, pro-school-choice lawmakers have expressed interest in potentially broadening the eligibility requirements in future legislative sessions. In its current form, the ESA program is targeted at low-income families, with the intention of providing more options for students to access educational opportunities outside the public school system.
Public comments on the proposed rules can be submitted through an online form provided by the state education department. This input will help shape the final guidelines before the program’s launch in the 2025-26 school year.
