This article is intended for schools interested in applying for the Wyoming ESA Program
Understanding Curriculum Requirements
- What is Curriculum? According to the Wyoming ESA Program, a curriculum is a course of study for content areas or grade levels, including supplemental materials.
- Required Subjects for K-12 ESA Students: Students must receive instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, civics, history, literature, and science.
Becoming a Qualified School
- A Qualified School is a pre-kindergarten or nonpublic primary or secondary school located in Wyoming or providing educational services within the state, including online instruction.
Public Schools and ESA Services
- Can public schools serve ESA students? Yes, public and charter schools may offer tuition-based individual courses to ESA students under a formal parent-student contract. However, they cannot claim Average Daily Membership (ADM) for these students.
Changes in School Ownership
- If a qualified school or educational center changes ownership, the new owner must submit a new application for approval. ESA account payments will be paused until approval is granted.
Certification Review
- The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) will conduct a virtual or in-person certification review within the first year of a school's provisional status to ensure compliance with program requirements.
Tuition Payments through the ESA Program
- Families select the school.
- The school confirms enrollment and tuition details.
- Payments are managed through the Wyoming ESA portal.
Student Records Obligations
- Public schools must provide a complete copy of a student’s records to the qualified school where the ESA student has enrolled.