Education

Wyoming's HB 123 creates education savings accounts (ESAs) that provide state-funded support for eligible students. Eligible students (Wyoming residents not yet in kindergarten or still in K-12 public school) receive annual funds ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 based on household income relative to federal poverty levels. Parents can use these funds for qualified expenses like tuition at certified schools, tutoring, textbooks, or technology, with payments disbursed quarterly by the state superintendent. The program is administered through a dedicated state fund, requiring parent agreements and adherence to defined spending rules.

HB 57 creates the "Hathaway private post secondary institution scholarship" to help Wyoming students attend private colleges or universities. It provides up to $500 per semester for tuition and fees at state-accredited private institutions offering certificates or degrees, with eligibility requiring a 3.5 high school GPA, standardized test scores at the 79th percentile, and meeting specific academic requirements. The program limits funding to 200 students total, covering up to eight full-time semesters per student, and requires the state education department to administer applications and verify eligibility through school transcripts. This scholarship directly affects qualifying Wyoming students seeking private post-secondary education, separate from public university funding.

Wyoming's HB 65 requires all public K-12 school districts to adopt new discipline policies that ban corporal punishment and mandate written notice to parents/guardians for student discipline actions. The bill establishes specific consequences like in-school suspension, exclusion from activities, or removal from classrooms (with teacher consent for return), while requiring schools to report discipline data and provide staff with professional development on behavior management. It also mandates that school employees report violent threats and ensures safety protocols for students and staff on school property. The policy directly affects all Wyoming public school staff, students, and parents/guardians through standardized discipline procedures and transparency requirements.