Wyoming Considers Joint Federal/State School Vouchers

Wyoming might be able to opt into a federal school voucher program.

Governor Gordon is looking at the idea carefully.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed by Congress, outlines a new federal school voucher program.

The program would give parents up to $1,700 per family, working as a tax credit.

Families who donate up to $1,700 to a scholarship-granting organization could then receive that money back, dollar for dollar, as a tax credit.

This would then allow the granting organization the ability to donate to a scholarship for religious or other private schooling, or for homeschooling costs.

Each state has to choose to opt into the program.

States that do then own a list of acceptable scholarship-granting organizations.

"Our office is currently reviewing the school choice provision of the bill, as there are questions that still need to be answered, as states appear to be able to structure the program to meet their needs/desires," spokesperson Michael Pearlman said via email. "Importantly, the Governor will want to ensure that if Wyoming opts in, that we establish a plan that best fits Wyoming." (Wyoming PBS).

Wyoming's voucher program is temporarily halted in court due to a lawsuit by the Wyoming Education Association (WEA).

The WEA argues that the state voucher program threatens public school funding and could lead to public dollars supporting schools that refuse to admit transgender children or accommodate those with disabilities.

There might also be a constitutional issue with the Wyoming State Constitution. Some tweaking might be needed to allow state education funds to go out to private education.