Wyoming took another step toward expanding school choice this summer when Gov. Mark Gordon opted into President Donald Trump’s new federal tax-credit scholarships. The Wyoming Department of Education has begun to lay the groundwork for the program, which is set to launch Jan. 1.
So how will the scholarships work here, and who is eligible to benefit?
The federal program allows U.S. taxpayers who contribute to a qualified “Scholarship Granting Organization” to receive federal tax credits, creating an incentive to donate. The organizations, which must be nonprofits, will then provide scholarships to students for education-related services like tuition, tutoring and supplies.
The Wyoming Department of Education began accepting applications Monday from nonprofits seeking to participate as qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations under the program.
To participate, organizations must meet federal and state requirements and submit an official application demonstrating their ability to manage scholarship funds, maintain transparent financial reporting and effectively serve Wyoming students, according to the education department. Applications are due Dec. 1 to participate in 2027.
Once organizations have been approved and taxpayer contributions start flowing, the idea is that families apply directly to participating nonprofits for scholarships.
To qualify, students must be eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school and come from a household with a prior-year income at or below 300% of the area’s median gross income, adjusted for family size, according to a federal fact sheet. Eligibility does not guarantee a scholarship.
Allowable education expenses under the scholarships include private-school tuition, books, supplies, computers and tutoring for K-12 students, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
New front
School choice has divided the education world, with critics maintaining that spending public money on private schools erodes public school funding and supporters contending it offers families necessary flexibility to meet individual needs and preferences.
Wyoming is no stranger to the issue. The state in 2025 passed a controversial law that created a universal school-choice voucher program, the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act.
Through the program, Wyoming residents can apply to receive up to $7,000 in state funds per student to pay for costs associated with private K-12 education and preschool. The money covers not only private-school tuition, but also things like admission fees to zoos or internet costs for homeschooling children not enrolled in public education. The law has traveled a rocky path, and its fate is still uncertain. A lawsuit challenging its constitutionality is tied up in court, though the Wyoming Supreme Court this summer allowed the state to begin distributing money for the program.
While Gordon has expressed concerns about whether a state school voucher program violates Wyoming’s constitution, the governor encourages participation in the federal program.
“Wyoming families want educational options that work for their children, whether that means additional tutoring, learning materials, or help with tuition,” Gordon said in a press release. “This program gives individuals a direct way to invest in those opportunities. I encourage qualified organizations to apply and help Wyoming families make the most of this new resource.”
