Wyoming universal school choice program still in legal limbo 

Wyoming’s first-ever school choice program remains stalled in court while a district court judge refuses to disburse scholarship funds.

The Steamboat Legacy Scholarship, which launched in 2024 and became universal in 2025, gives students $7,000 to use for a variety of educational expenses.

But in June the Wyoming Education Association (WEA) filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of school choice and insisting “public dollars belong in public schools.”

For context, Wyoming public schools currently spend over $20,000 per pupil, exceeding the national average of $17,000, while the average private school tuition is just $10,500 – almost half what Wyoming public schools spend.

In its first year, the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship was exclusively for low-income families. Now families of all income levels can apply, but returning students and their siblings will have first priority.

After the WEA teachers’ union filed its lawsuit, District Court Judge Peter Froelicher granted an injunction to stop the disbursement of scholarship funds.

With nearly 4,000 applicants and the new school year looming, school choice advocates petitioned Froelicher to reverse the injunction, but were denied Aug. 12.

WEA President Kim Amen praised Froelicher for “preserving the status quo.”

“We believe it’s critical that public funds remain dedicated to supporting the public schools that serve 93% of Wyoming’s students,” she said of the initial injunction.

Others saw it as a political move harming families.

“Today’s injunction is the latest effort by self-absorbed teachers’ union officials to stand in the way of Wyoming families’ ability to secure the best education possible for their children,” said Americans for Prosperity Wyoming State Director Tyler Lindholm.

Private schools often offer a payment plan so families don’t have to pay the full tuition at the beginning of the year. However, the extended funding delay causes turmoil and uncertainty for the program’s applicants, many of whom may need the scholarship to afford tuition.

Nevertheless, proponents of school choice don’t think parents should lose hope yet.

The Mountain States Policy Center (MSPC) described the WEA’s legal arguments as “misguided” and said “the law and common sense” are on the side of the school choice program.

In the meantime, MSPC recommended Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon opt into the school choice program created by President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, which will give families up to $1,700 in tax credits starting in 2027.