Wyoming to distribute ESA funds after injunction lifted

CASPER (WNE) — Now that the injunction blocking Wyoming's education savings accounts has been lifted, the Department of Education is preparing to distribute funds.

The department will not be able to reimburse families for the early part of the school year while the injunction was in effect. However, according to a department news release, families already approved for the program may roll over fourth-quarter payments into the next school year.

To be eligible for the fourth quarter fund roll-over, the student must have been previously approved in the ESA program and not have been enrolled in a public school during the 2025-2026 school year. The amount to be rolled over is $1,750.

To access the funds, families must complete the 2026-2027 application to verify eligibility.

"While no one can predict future legal outcomes, lifting the injunction means the state is authorized to distribute these funds to families," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder said in the news release. "The current litigation is focused on whether the state's funding mechanism itself is constitutional, and there is no indication that participating parents or schools would be held personally liable for repayment of properly disbursed funds if the law were to be overturned."

The department expressed optimism that the full program will move forward next school year.

This story was published on May 23, 2026.