This article is intended for parents interested in the Wyoming ESA Program
Misuse & Misrepresentation Investigation
The WDE shall open a formal investigation when it has reasonable suspicion to believe that any parent has intentionally and substantially misused ESA funds.
The WDE will notify the parent of the investigation involving their alleged conduct and provide a summary of the suspected improper conduct. The parent may respond to this notice within twenty (20) days from the date it is sent by the WDE. The WDE may seek further clarification or information from the parent as necessary to conduct its investigation.
If the WDE determines that a parent engaged in intentional and substantial misuse of funds, it will terminate the ESA account and order that the responsible parent repay misused funds.
If the WDE determines that an unintentional misuse of funds occurred, it may require that a parent refund the misused funds to the ESA program.
Any parent aggrieved by the WDE’s investigation determination may request a contested case hearing as provided by the WDE’s contested case procedure rules. Generally, a parent requests a rules through sending a request to the WDE containing contact information and a general description of why the parent is asking for a hearing. Contested cases are referred to the Office of Administrative Hearings, which then conducts the hearing. For more details, please consult the WDE’s contested case rules: https://rules.wyo.gov/Search.aspx?RefNum=206.0002.3.04052023.