Rekindling a still-smouldering debate from last year’s legislative session, Laramie Republican Rep. Ocean Andrew on Thursday brought House Bill 199, “Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act” — a measure that would bring universal school vouchers to Wyoming. Lawmakers created a new program in 2024 to give income-qualified families up to $6,000 in state funds to offset private school fees, pre-K tuition or homeschool education costs.  School choice advocates wanted to extend the program to all Wyomingites with school-aged kids, but legislative compromises and line-item vetoes from Gov. Mark Gordon kept the money earmarked for families who earn up to 150% of the federal poverty level — $48,800 for a family of four. Andrew’s measure would transform that newly implemented education savings account program into a universal school voucher program.  The Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act would offer up to $7,000 per family in the 2025-26 school year (and more thereafter based on inflation adjustments) for non-public-school K-12 costs like private or religious school tuition or homeschool equipment. The bill would do away with the pre-K inclusion as well as the income qualification of the ESA program.  The latter change flies in the face of constitutionality concerns that have hovered over the legislation since early days of drafting. The Wyoming Constitution prohibits the state from giving money to individuals “except for the necessary support of the poor.” It also prohibits public funds to be used for private or parochial schools. Rep. Ocean Andrew, R-Laramie, during the 68th Legislature in Cheyenne. (Mike Vanata/WyoFile) “Vouchers benefit the wealthiest families,” said Kim Amen, president of the Wyoming Education Association, which is staunchly opposed to the measure. “They often go to families who can already afford to send their kids to private schools, leaving the other students, the most vulnerable, left behind.”  The bill makes Wyoming vulnerable to expensive legal challenges due to its unconstitutional nature, she said.   But Tyler Lindholm, state director for Americans for Prosperity Wyoming and a former lawmaker, said the new bill improves on the foundation laid by the 2024 education savings account program in a way he believes threads some important needles. “We at Americans for Prosperity kind of take the stance that every child and every family should be able to make that choice for their children,” he said of educational models. “Regardless of where everybody lands in this situation and how funds should be utilized, I think everybody ends up agreeing that parents are the best decision makers for children.” A rocky path  The ESA measure was transformed, killed, revived, amended scores of times, passed by the Legislature, then partially vetoed by Gov. Mark Gordon in March before finally becoming law. The tug-of-war reflected advocates’ divergent priorities: early childhood education for some, universal access to non-public-school choice for others. A pair of 2023 voucher bills would have given families $6,000 per K-12 student for tuition at any non-governmental school or related educational expenses. Both failed, but a new proposal that would extend the money to early childhood education costs emerged from the ashes.  One iteration of that bill survived the Legislature. It had a tiered system based on a family’s income relative to the federal poverty level — $6,000 for families earning 150% or below; $4,800 for families earning 150%-200%; $3,600 for families earning 200%-250%; all the way up to $400 for families earning 450%-500%. For a family of four, 500% of the federal poverty level is an annual income of $156,000.  RELATED As education savings accounts roll out, school-choice advocates push again for expanded eligibility Gordon narrows ‘education savings account’ income eligibility, signs bill into law With his veto pen, Gordon eliminated eligibility for all but families at or below 150%. Officials built the administrative infrastructure for the ESA program over the summer and applications opened Jan. 1. School choice advocates, however, expressed a desire to expand it, which is what the new bill would do. More than 30 Wyoming-Freedom-Caucus-aligned senators and representatives are listed as bill co-sponsors.  The Freedom Scholarship Act would amend the current program by:  Changing the funding source from the general fund to state mineral royalty revenue.  Increasing the annual allotment to $7,000, and allowing for that amount to be adjusted based on inflation.  Stripping the pre-K cost inclusion and narrowing eligible students to grades K-12.  Stripping the requirement for participating students to take either statewide assessments or a nationally normed achievement exam. What they are saying  Superintendent of Public Instruction Megen Degenfelder proclaimed her support for the hard-right Freedom Caucus ahead of the session and specifically referenced removing the income restrictions on education savings accounts in her legislative priorities. “Our future is under attack by extreme ideologies and federal overreach that have no place in Wyoming,” Degenfelder said in a statement. “This legislative agenda is about standing firm against this assault, protecting our families and resources, empowering parents, and ensuring every student is equipped to succeed with the values that make Wyoming strong.” Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder chats with K-3 students at Gannett Peak Elementary in Lander on March 19, 2024. (Katie Klingsporn/WyoFile) The Wyoming Education Association’s Amen, however, said voucher programs are harmful to education systems, particularly the rural kind that exist in much of Wyoming. “This one, with its overwhelming lack of accountability, the amount of money that they’re pouring into it and the automatic built-in [cost adjustment], is especially disturbing,” she said. “It’s also unconstitutional, because the Wyoming State Constitution will not allow us to give public funds to private entities.” The post Bill would establish universal school voucher program in Wyoming appeared first on WyoFile .