CHEYENNE—Wyoming officials say the Cowboy State stands to lose more than $24.5 million after the Trump administration withheld more than $6 billion in funds supporting various education programs earlier this week.
Kim Amen, president of the Wyoming Education Association, said she was blindsided by the decision, and now Wyoming K-12 public school districts, as well as her organization, are in a “scramble” to determine budgets before school begins across the state in just a few weeks.
Nationally and in Wyoming, the funds withheld support professional development for teachers, support for English learners, offer student support and academic enrichment grants, and support after-school and summer enrichment programs.
“This all comes back to our students, and they’re the ones that are going to suffer,” Amen said. “… Everything we do in our schools is to support our students.”
She said Wyoming’s public school districts will now face tough decisions about where to put their money. There is potential for teachers or paraprofessionals to lose their jobs, or other services may be cut for some school districts to continue after-school programs or professional development, if they choose to do so, Amen said.
This scramble may be more pronounced in rural areas of Wyoming, as many may not have access to other services for after-school care like a YMCA and typically rely more heavily on the type of federal funds withheld by the Trump administration in this move, Amen said.
The Wyoming Department of Education is encouraging school districts to not obligate any funds beyond existing carryover funds for Title II-A, Title III and 21st Century Community Learning Centers, a federal program under Title IV.
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder commented on the decision in a written statement to the WTE.
“We are constantly in contact with our partners at the federal level, and while we do not yet know the details of this review of funds, President Trump’s education priorities are Wyoming’s priorities, and I continue to support his leadership,” she wrote.
The WDE provided the following figures that will not be allocated to the state if the funds are not distributed:
- Title II-A, professional development for teachers — $10,835,611
- Title III, support for English learners — $500,000
- Title IV-A, student support and academic enrichment grants — $6,659,535 (the state was actually given allocation figures for this grant in May, but they rescinded that while they review)
- Title IV-B (21st Century Community Learning Centers), after-school and summer enrichment programs — $6,515,398
- Total: $24,510,544
For Amen, she said she could see the burden falling on the state, and Wyoming taxpayers, to continue to fund services provided by Wyoming’s public schools.
“We were told by some people in leadership in this state that the gutting of the (U.S.) Department of Education was actually a good thing for the state of Wyoming because it would mean that all the money would come back to the states and that we would get to decide how that money was spent. And we are seeing that that is not the case,” she said.
I agree with Larry, his numbers are right somewhere around $16-$17,000 per student annually in Wyoming. We put our children through school here in Cheyenne and you would just shake your head at the decisions made from the school district at times. Right now they’re talking shutting down eight schools and building one big school for all them kids. I don’t know what they’re thinking ,to go to the university of Wyoming is $5200 tuition a year. These afterschool programs and activities are very important and should continue that that’s why you go to public school otherwise you could just homeschool and have nothing going on with your children’s activities. The afterschool program that my daughter works helps children after school ,supplies them with snacks as many of them are Food insecure, and I really think the school districts have the funds to continue this if they would make wiser decisions with their funds.
I am of the opinion that our public schools need to take a very hard look at what is education and what is extracurricular activity. I know that extracurricular activities help build character, responsibility and other things, but since when has it been acceptable to just assume that tax payers, many of whom do not have children in school, to foot the bill for food and lodging while at away competitions. I have worked at places where schools from all over the state have had vouchers to pay for entire teams meals. Part of growing up is learning that you have to earn your way, it’s not just handed to you. If parents can’t afford for their children to participate, then the children need to earn their way to getting what they want.
I thought Degenfelder was some independent, rugged individualist-type that neither wants or needs the big bad federal government? Megan, along with the MAGA jokers and the FreeDumb Caucus are waaaaaaaaay over their heads
She must be voted out of office.
Wyoming that money will never be redistributed to your school funding ever again.so much for priorities that $ was supposed to be for upgrades, teacher/student programs and enrichment,doesnt matter what your “ideology is money loss is a loss period.
In 2023. Wyoming property taxes funded $1,500,000,000 to k-12. Number of students show less than 93,000 students in Wyoming. That still works out to $16,129 per student!!! People the school districts have more than enough money to educate little Billy & Susie!!
I don’t think your numbers are right there friend.
No. Mr. Jones my numbers are right. Data is out there. Google it. Read it. Or do you have “reading gaps” as well. For starters 69% of Wyoming property taxes goes to public education. 69%.
Its county’s and States responsibility to fund Education. They have enough funds to do so.
Stunning statement from Superintendent Degenfelder: suggesting Trump’s education priorities are aligned with Wyoming’s (as if he cares) and supporting his leadership despite this likely illegal pause in the release of funds already appropriated by Congress. Why can’t she publicly say the loss of any Federal funding for Wyoming schools will be a bad thing?