Wyoming Education Funding Programs: The $7,000 Wyoming ESA for 2026-27 Explained
Wyoming education funding for parents in 2026-27: how the $7,000 Wyoming Education Savings Account works, who qualifies for K-12 and pre-K, the court ruling that restored the program, quarterly deposits, allowable expenses, reimbursements, testing rules and what it means for homeschool families. Last verified October 2026.
Quick answer: Wyoming’s main school choice program is the Wyoming Education Savings Account (ESA), run by the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) through the Odyssey platform. Each approved student receives $7,000 a year, deposited in four equal quarterly payments starting September 1. Any Wyoming resident child aged 5 through 20 who is not enrolled in public school can qualify for the K-12 program with no income limit, and 4-year-olds from households at or below 250% of the federal poverty level can get one pre-K year. Applications for 2026-27 closed August 6, 2026. The program was blocked by a court in 2025 and restored when the Wyoming Supreme Court reversed that injunction on May 14, 2026, though the underlying lawsuit continues.
Wyoming took a long road to its first statewide education savings account. Lawmakers created the program in 2024, widened it in 2025, and then a lawsuit froze it for most of a school year before the state’s highest court let it move forward. For families, that history matters because it shapes the dates, the rules and the risks for 2026-27.
This guide covers how the Wyoming ESA works, who qualifies, how deposits and spending work, what the testing and curriculum rules are, and how the program interacts with Wyoming’s homeschool law. To see how Wyoming compares with other states, read our guide to state education funding programs for parents.
Last verified October 2026 against the Wyoming Department of Education’s ESA Family Handbook for 2026-27 (updated September 2026) and WDE program announcements. Court details come from published reporting on the Wyoming Supreme Court’s May 14, 2026 decision. Program rules can change through legislation, regulation or litigation, so confirm details with WDE before spending money. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.
Wyoming ESA at a Glance
| Feature | 2026-27 details |
|---|---|
| Program | Wyoming Education Savings Account, expanded by the 2025 Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act |
| Administered by | Wyoming Department of Education, using the Odyssey platform |
| Amount | $7,000 per student per year |
| Payment schedule | Four equal quarterly deposits of $1,750, starting September 1 |
| K-12 income limit | None |
| Pre-K | One year, for 4-year-olds at or below 250% of the federal poverty level |
| Public school enrollment | Not allowed while participating, though individual classes can be contracted |
| 2026-27 application deadline | August 6, 2026 |
| Contact | wde-esa@wyo.gov; Odyssey at help.wy@withodyssey.com |
Wyoming’s program is a true ESA, not a voucher. The difference is explained in our article on ESAs vs vouchers vs tax-credit scholarships.
How the Program Got Here
Creation and expansion
The Legislature created the Wyoming ESA Program with the Education Savings Account Act in 2024. In 2025, lawmakers passed the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act, which amended the program so that K-12 students qualify regardless of household income, with an award of $7,000 per child.
The lawsuit and the injunction
On June 13, 2025, the Wyoming Education Association sued, arguing the program violates the Wyoming Constitution’s education provisions. A district court judge issued a preliminary injunction that stopped the program from paying out funds. The Wyoming Supreme Court declined to lift that injunction while it considered the appeal, so most families approved for 2025-26 did not receive money during that school year.
Families join the defense
A week later, on June 20, 2025, the Partnership for Educational Choice, a joint project of the Institute for Justice and EdChoice, asked the court to let Wyoming families who had applied for the ESA join the case as defendants. The Institute for Justice and EdChoice represent those families separately from the state’s lawyers, which is why both names appear in coverage of the case.
The May 2026 ruling
On May 14, 2026, the Wyoming Supreme Court unanimously reversed the preliminary injunction, which allowed WDE to restart the program. The ruling addressed the injunction, not the final question of whether the law is constitutional. That question returns to the district court, so a future ruling could still affect the program. Nothing in WDE’s materials indicates families would have to repay properly spent funds, but families should follow updates.
After the ruling, WDE said the 2025-26 fourth-quarter deposit of $1,750 would roll over into 2026-27 for previously approved students who are not enrolled in public school.
What the Wyoming Constitution arguments are
The district court found the challengers were likely to succeed under the Wyoming Constitution, including Article 3, Section 36, which bars appropriations for educational purposes to anyone “not under the absolute control of the state.” In its May 2026 opinion, the Wyoming Supreme Court questioned that reading, noting that the money is appropriated to a program account controlled by the state superintendent, and it also questioned the lower court’s use of strict scrutiny. Because the justices formed no final opinion on the merits, those Wyoming Constitution questions are still open in district court.
Who Qualifies for the K-12 ESA
According to the WDE handbook, a K-12 student must:
- Be at least 5 years old on or before August 1 of the year the child enrolls in kindergarten, or turn 5 between August 1 and September 15 and have an attendance exception from the local district.
- Be younger than 21 as of August 1 of the application year and not have graduated from high school or earned a GED or equivalent.
- Live in Wyoming.
- Not be enrolled in a public school while participating. Students may still contract with a public district or charter school for individual classes.
No income test for K-12
Income does not matter for K-12 eligibility. Families upload proof of age, such as a certified birth certificate or passport, and proof of residency, such as a Wyoming vehicle registration, home ownership documents, a lease, two recent utility bills from different companies, prior-year tax records with a matching address, or proof of Wyoming public assistance. Post office boxes are not accepted as addresses.
Students with disabilities
Joining the ESA counts as a parental placement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Districts are not required to provide a free appropriate public education to ESA students, though students with disabilities may still qualify for some district special education services that do not amount to FAPE. Parents of children with IEPs should talk with the district’s special education department before leaving public school.
Pre-K Eligibility
The pre-K ESA is a single year for kindergarten readiness. The child must be 4 years old on or before August 1, live in Wyoming, and come from a household at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Under the handbook’s 2026 table, the annual income limits are:
| Household size | 250% annual income limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $39,900 |
| 2 | $54,100 |
| 3 | $68,300 |
| 4 | $82,500 |
| 5 | $96,700 |
| 6 | $110,900 |
Add $14,200 for each additional household member. Income is based on adjusted gross income from the previous year’s tax return, or proof of benefits such as SNAP or TANF. Pre-K students must receive kindergarten readiness instruction.
Applying, Withdrawing and Renewing
The 2026-27 timeline
The 2026-27 application closed on August 6, 2026. WDE planned to send status notices and make funds available by September 1, 2026. Purchases made before September 1 are not eligible expenses. Quarterly deposits were scheduled for early September and early November 2026, and early February and early May 2027.
How applications are reviewed
Families apply once for all eligible children in the household and sign a parent contract. In the first year, awards were first come, first served once a student was verified eligible. In later years, the law gives priority to students who received funding the year before and to siblings of current or recent recipients. After submitting, families receive one of three statuses by email: eligible, ineligible or under review.
Withdrawing from public school
Before funds are released, parents must formally withdraw the child from any public school and notify the district in writing within 15 days after the signed ESA contract takes effect. The WDE acceptance email can serve as that notice. Our guide on how to withdraw your child from public school walks through the general process.
Renewal
Participation must be renewed every year. WDE sends a renewal contract before each school year, and missing the deadline can cut off access to funds.
What Wyoming ESA Funds Can Pay For
Every student receives the same $7,000, and families are encouraged to spend it directly through the Odyssey Marketplace, where listed products and services are already approved. Qualifying expenses in the handbook include:
- Tuition and fees at qualified private schools, including pre-K.
- Educational therapies such as speech, occupational, behavioral and audiology therapy, and other special education services.
- Tutoring from non-family individual tutors or tutoring centers.
- Curriculum, textbooks and instructional materials.
- Tuition and fees for nongovernmental online courses that align with Wyoming standards.
- Dual enrollment college courses and career or technical school costs.
- Norm-referenced tests, AP exams, college entrance exams and test prep courses.
- Computer hardware, other devices and educational software, including assistive technology.
- Individual classes, activities and programs contracted from a public district or charter school.
- Summer educational programs and academic after-school programs, but not programs that are only childcare.
- Fees for a paid transportation provider to and from an education provider.
- Required school uniforms.
Purchases may be limited by quantity, size and frequency. Payment is generally made after a product ships or a service is delivered, except for tuition and fees needed to enroll or test.
Reimbursements
When an item or service cannot be bought through the Marketplace, families may request reimbursement in the Odyssey portal within 30 days of purchase. Receipts must show the vendor, date, total, an itemized description and proof of payment, and handwritten receipts are not accepted. WDE decides within 30 days, and families can ask for a review panel within 14 days of a denial. Internet fees are one of the reimbursements the handbook names.
For a broader view of allowable spending across states, see what education savings account funds can pay for.
Using the Wyoming ESA for Homeschool Curriculum, Online Classes and Tutoring
For families educating at home, the Wyoming ESA Marketplace on Odyssey is where most of the $7,000 gets spent. Here is how the most common approved educational expenses work in practice.
Homeschool curriculum
Curriculum, textbooks and instructional materials are qualifying expenses, so a full-year homeschool curriculum, single-subject programs and workbooks can all be paid from ESA funds. Buying through the Marketplace is simplest, since listed products are already approved. If a homeschool curriculum you want is not listed, you can buy it yourself and request reimbursement within 30 days, with an itemized receipt.
Online classes and online tutoring
Tuition and fees for nongovernmental online classes that align with Wyoming standards qualify, as does online tutoring from tutors or tutoring centers who are not family members. Many education service providers on the Marketplace offer both live and self-paced options, which suits families in rural parts of the state. Check that a provider covers the subjects the ESA requires, since the family remains responsible for reading, writing, mathematics, civics, history, literature and science.
Private school tuition
Families who choose a private school can use ESA funds for private school tuition and fees, including pre-K at qualified schools. With $7,000 a year, the ESA covers all of tuition at some schools and part of it at others, so ask the school for its full cost before signing.
Keeping ESA funds on track
Because only approved educational expenses qualify, keep a simple log of what you buy, which child it is for and how it fits the required subjects. That record makes reimbursement requests and any WDE audit far easier, and it helps you plan how to spread ESA funds across the quarterly deposits.
Rules That Come With the Money
- Required subjects. Instruction must include reading, writing, mathematics, civics (including the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions), history, literature and science.
- Annual testing. Students take either the state assessment or an approved nationally norm-referenced achievement test. Results or proof of completion must be uploaded within 14 days of receiving them, or the student may lose eligibility.
- Records. Keep receipts for every transaction, since WDE may audit accounts.
- No personal deposits. Families cannot add their own money to the account.
- Unused funds. Balances roll over from year to year while the student stays eligible, but the money remains state property and is never refunded to the parent.
- Separate accounts. Each child has a separate balance, and money cannot move between siblings’ accounts.
- Instructional autonomy. Parents are not required to include instruction that conflicts with their or the student’s religious beliefs.
Misuse of funds can lead to disqualification and, in serious cases, criminal charges. Our list of common mistakes with education savings accounts covers the errors that most often cause trouble.
What It Means for Homeschool Families
Wyoming’s homeschool law, W.S. 21-4-102, treats a home-based educational program as meeting compulsory attendance. Since House Bill 46, known as the Homeschool Freedom Act, took effect on July 1, 2025, parents no longer submit their curriculum to the local district. House Bill 46 did not remove the duty to notify the district when withdrawing a child who was enrolled in public school, according to the Wyoming Department of Education.
An ESA family that is educating at home operates under the ESA contract instead. The handbook says the parent must give the district annual notice of ESA participation, which releases the district from its obligation to educate the child and keeps the student in compliance with compulsory attendance. In return, the family accepts the ESA’s required subjects, annual testing, spending rules and audits.
For many homeschool families, $7,000 a year for curriculum, classes, tutoring and technology is a large benefit. For others, the testing and reporting requirements outweigh the money. Our article on whether homeschoolers can use state education funds compares those trade-offs across states.
Other Options in Wyoming
Wyoming has no state tax-credit scholarship program and no state income tax, so there is no state education tax deduction. Families who do not use the ESA can choose from public schools, public charter schools, private schools paid out of pocket, and independent homeschooling under W.S. 21-4-102.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Wyoming ESA?
$7,000 per student per year, deposited in four equal quarterly installments starting September 1.
Is there an income limit for the Wyoming ESA?
Not for K-12 students. The one-year pre-K ESA is limited to households at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, which is $82,500 for a family of four under the 2026 guidelines.
Can I apply now for 2026-27?
The 2026-27 application closed August 6, 2026. Watch the Wyoming Department of Education’s ESA page for the next application period.
Can my child attend public school part time and keep the ESA?
No. ESA students cannot be enrolled in public school, but parents can contract with a district or charter school for individual classes. Those classes do not earn credit or appear on a transcript.
Is the Wyoming ESA still in court?
Yes. The Wyoming Supreme Court reversed the preliminary injunction on May 14, 2026, which allowed the program to operate, but the constitutional challenge continues in district court.
Do leftover funds carry over?
Yes. Unused funds roll over while the student remains eligible, but they remain state property and are never paid out to parents.
Can I use the Wyoming ESA for homeschool curriculum?
Yes. Curriculum, textbooks and instructional materials are qualifying expenses, and many homeschool curriculum options, online classes and online tutoring services are listed on the Wyoming ESA Marketplace through Odyssey. Items not listed can be reimbursed if requested within 30 days with an itemized receipt.
Who is defending the Wyoming ESA in court?
The state is defending the law, and Wyoming families represented by the Institute for Justice and EdChoice, through their Partnership for Educational Choice, moved in June 2025 to join the case and defend the program too.
Sources
- Wyoming Department of Education, Wyoming ESA Family Handbook, 2026-27 school year (updated September 2026).
- Wyoming Department of Education, Wyoming ESA program announcements on 2026-27 applications and the 2025-26 fourth-quarter rollover.
- Wyoming Statutes 21-2-901 et seq. (Education Savings Account Act, as amended in 2025) and W.S. 21-4-102 (home-based educational programs); 2025 House Bill 46.
- Published reporting on Wyoming Education Association v. State, including the Wyoming Supreme Court’s May 14, 2026 decision.
- HHS, 2026 Poverty Guidelines.
- Wyoming Legislature, 2025 HB0046 “Homeschool freedom act” (Enrolled Act 28, effective July 1, 2025) and LSO bill summary; Wyoming Department of Education homeschooling page and Superintendent’s statement on implementing the Homeschool Freedom Act.
- Wyoming Supreme Court, Degenfelder v. Wyoming Education Association, 2026 WY 54 (May 14, 2026).
- Institute for Justice, Wyoming School Choice case page (motion to intervene filed June 20, 2025).
