To participate in the Wyoming ESA program, families must meet annual eligibility criteria. This article outlines the key eligibility requirements.
Student Status
Any child who is a Wyoming resident, not enrolled in a public school while participating in an ESA program, and meets the following criteria:
The child is 5 years of age on or before August 1 of the year enrolling in kindergarten.
The child has not graduated from high school or received a GED or equivalent and is younger than 21 years of age as of August 1 of the year for which the parent is applying.
Pre-Kindergarten ESA Program Only: The child is 4 years of age on or before August 1 of the year enrolling in a Pre-Kindergarten program. This is a one-year-only ESA program for kindergarten readiness programs.
Proof of student status must be uploaded with the application and may include:
Certified birth certificate.
Passport or other state-approved documentation that verifies age.
If the parent does not have any of the above documentation, please contact the WDE for guidance.
Residency
The student must be a resident of Wyoming. As proof of residency, a parent must provide documentation such as:
A valid Wyoming vehicle registration card.
Proof of Wyoming home ownership, such as a mortgage document, warranty deed, or homeowner's insurance.
Two Wyoming utility bills from two different companies, not more than 90 days old and not including termination notices.
Current residential rental or lease agreement.
Prior year tax records that show a Wyoming address matching the application address.
Proof of public assistance through a Wyoming state agency.
Other documentation as determined by the WDE.
Income Requirements
The income requirement is only applicable to Pre-K students.
An eligible student is a member of a household with an annual income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Eligibility is based on adjusted gross income (AGI) before any taxes or deductions. Acceptable forms of income verification include:
Federal income tax returns from the previous year.
Proof of public assistance benefits, such as SNAP or TANF.
If the parent does not have any of the above documentation, please contact the WDE for guidance.
For information on determining your household size, please refer to the Determining Household Size for Income Verification article.