Wyoming governor signs universal school choice bill

Wyoming has signed a school choice bill, making it the 15th state to enact a form of universal school choice in the last four years, according to school choice evangelist Corey DeAngelis.

Gov. Mark Gordon signed the measure Tuesday afternoon, granting parents in the Cowboy State $7,000 education savings accounts to put toward their child’s education. The money can be used for things like tuition, learning materials and transportation.

The Steamboat Legacy Scholarship is also the first in the nation to include Pre-K in its school choice program, Gordon said today. The Republican praised the bill’s accountability and funding structure, which comes from the state’s general fund.

“By investing in early childhood education, we’re not only supporting working families and empowering parents, we’re also making a smart, fiscally responsible decision,” he said, “High quality pre-K programs reduce long-term costs by minimizing the need for remedial education and social services ensuring better outcomes for Wyoming’s children.”

The Cowboy State joins Tennessee and neighboring Idaho in enacting broad school choice programs this year. Other states including Texas, Virginia, and Kansas are considering passing school choice programs.