The ESA program was established by the Wyoming Education Savings Account Act in 2024, which was amended by the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act this year. The program provides eligible students to receive $7,000 annually, beginning in the 2025-26 school year, for various educational expenses, including private school tuition, curriculum, tutoring, extra-curricular activities, and other approved education-related costs. Contact wde-esa@wyo.gov with questions.

Legal Challenge

On June 13, 2025, the Wyoming Education Association (WEA) filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the ESA program. 

Following the Wyoming Supreme Court’s denial of the request to stay a Laramie County District Court injunction on October 7, 2025, the program remains temporarily blocked. The Wyoming Department of Education, in coordination with the Wyoming Attorney General, will continue legal efforts to challenge this ruling and ensure the funds approved by the Wyoming Legislature can be used by the families counting on this program.

Additional Updates

  • Continuation of ESA Program Participation: Current eligible participants in the ESA program can maintain their status while the program is under injunction. 
  • Program Withdrawal: If you are currently an eligible participant and plan to move from Wyoming or do not wish to continue participating in the program, please email wde-esa@wyo.gov to un-enroll from the ESA program. Timely notification will help in efficiently managing the participant roster.
  • New Applications: Wyoming students can complete this survey to show interest in future ESA Program application openings.

Education Service Provider Application

The Wyoming Department of Education launched the Education Service Provider (ESP) application for service providers and vendors on April 1. An ESP Handbook and an FAQ document will help providers and schools navigate the program. Providers needing technical assistance with the application can email help.wy@withodyssey.com.

  • Wyoming residents age 4 years and in pre-k through grade 12.
  • Students not enrolled in a public school for the 2025-26 school year.

Additional qualifications for Pre-kindergarten students:

  • Eligible students can receive $7,000 annually, deposited into an ESA account for their educational expenses.

Families can use ESA funds for various education expenses, including:

  • Tuition and fees at a participating school;
  • Tutoring services;
  • Classes or extracurricular activities at a traditional public or public charter school;
  • Textbooks and curriculum;
  • Educational technology;
  • School uniforms;
  • Fees for summer education programs and after-school education;
  • Tuition and fees for nongovernmental online learning programs;
  • Educational therapies like behavioral or speech-language therapy;
  • Costs for college admission tests and AP exams;
  • For Fee Transportation costs to education service providers.

  • The WDE is developing a certification process to approve pre-k and non-public primary and secondary schools per the law.
  • A list of certified education service providers, including individuals, organizations, and schools, will be published on this website when available.

  • Parents must ensure their children receive instruction in core subjects and are assessed on academic progress through the state assessment or nationally norm referenced assessment.

  • Yes, due to the temporary suspension of the program because of the legal challenge, students may enroll in public school and remain applicants for the ESA program. If the program can continue, families will have to unenroll in public school to remain in the ESA program.

Contact
Kimberly Wyman

ESA Program Manager

Parents