Legal Challenges Delay Wyoming's School Choice Funding Program

A Laramie County District Court Judge who last month temporarily blocked a school choice program that was approved by the 2025 Wyoming Legislature has now issued a preliminary injunction that is likely to block the program for months or possibly even years.

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You can read the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act passed by lawmakers earlier this year here. The program would make $7,000 available for parents to pay for homeschooling or private schools for their children. It was originally supposed to take effect on July 1, but Judge Peter Froelicher put that on hold in late June with a ruling that put off it's implementation while he wrote an order on the issue.

Judge Has Now Issued An Injunction Against School Choice Program

That came out yesterday in the form of an injunction.

Yesterday's ruling is not the final word on the issue, but it does block the program while a court fight on the Legacy Act proceeds. It's not clear exactly how long that might take, but it's safe to say the it won't be decided in the near future.

In his ruling, Froelicher expressed concerns about giving state education money to people who are not under state supervision.

The Wyoming Education Association had filed a lawsuit against the legislation.

The WEA opposes the bill because they say it violates the Wyoming Constitution's requirements for a quality, uniform education for all Wyoming students and because it gives money to schools that are not under state supervision.

But supporters of the measure say no one is harmed by it's implementation.. They say that on the other hand, blocking it deprives Wyoming families of the ability to get the best possible education for their children.

Wyoming State Superintendent Megen Degenfelder says she is working with the Wyoming Attorney General's Office on legal challenges to the inunction.

Wyoming Freedom Caucus, WEA Comment On Ruling

The Wyoming Education Association applauded the judge's ruling issuing a statement that reads in part :"This is a crucial step in protecting our constitutional promise of a free, fair, and equitable public education for every Wyoming student.

This win belongs to our members, our students, and our communities. We still have work ahead of us, and we will continue to fight for our students, our schools, and our future."

But the Wyoming Freedom Caucus expressed a very different opinion, accusing Froelicher of "choosing to legislate from the bench." A statement on the Freedom Caucus Facebook page said the ruling was ''not about 'protecting Wyoming kids--it's about protecting the public education monopoly.'