Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act

The Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act, formerly known as the Wyoming Education Savings Account Program, was expanded in 2024 to offer universal eligibility. This program provides for universal eligibility and increases the value of each ESA to $7,000. It also opens pre-kindergarten eligibility to families with incomes below 250% of the FPL, adjusted for household size. The program’s funding comes from a $30 million appropriation. Participants must take regular assessments to document their academic progress.

Funding Mechanism: The state budget appropriates $30 million for this program, and legislators intend that this appropriation be included in the standard budget of the Wyoming Department of Education for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.  

Universal Eligibility: ✅
Universal Usage: ✅
Universal Funding: ❌
Truly Universal: ❌

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

ESA funds may be spent on tuition and fees at a qualified school or on tutoring services provided by an individual or a tutoring facility, excluding members of an ESA student’s immediate family. Funds may also be used for services contracted for and provided by a public school district, including individual classes, extracurricular activities and programs; textbooks, curriculum, and other instructional or supplemental materials required for instruction required by a curriculum or education service provider; computer hardware or other technological devices that are primarily used to help meet an ESA student’s educational needs; and educational software and applications. They also may be used for school uniforms; fees for nationally standardized assessments, AP exams, and exams for college or university admission; preparatory courses for college or university admissions exams; summer education programs and specialized after school education programs, not including after school childcare programs; a career or technical school; educational services and therapies including but not limited to occupational, behavioral, physical, speech-language and audiology therapies; tuition and fees at an institution of higher education; fees for transportation paid to a fee-for-service transportation provider for the student to travel to and from an education service provider; tuition and fees for nongovernmental online learning programs; and any other educational expense approved by the state superintendent. 

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

View program requirements for parents, schools, and scholarship granting organizations by clicking on each hyperlink.

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

W.S. 21-2-901 through W.S. 21-2-909; W.S. 21-4-102; W.S. 21-4-301 and W.S. 21-13-310 

 (Last updated May 8, 2025) 

On June 13, 2025, the Wyoming Education Association filed a lawsuit challenge the constitutionality of the Wyoming ESA Program, captioned Wyoming Education Association, et al. v. Megan Degenfelder, et al. (Civil Action No.: 2025-CV-0203366). The Partnership for Educational Freedom, which includes EdChoice and Institute for Justice, has filed a motion to intervene in the case on behalf of two Wyoming families participating in the program. EdChoice Legal Advocates serves as lead counsel in the case.

 (Last updated June 23, 2025)