Homeschooling in Wyoming is popular due to minimal regulations. Families can currently access federal funding options but the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship is on hold due to legal issues.
With approximately 3,000 homeschooled students, Wyoming has a significant homeschool community that benefits from understanding available funding options (NCES estimates, 2023). Homeschool regulations vary dramatically across the U.S. — 11 states have no requirement to notify the government, while 6 states require curriculum approval, standardized testing, or professional evaluations (HSLDA, 2024).
Can I get paid to homeschool in Wyoming?
Not right now. The Steamboat Legacy Scholarship, which was set to offer $7,000 a year, is stuck due to a lawsuit. It was supposed to start in 2025, but the Wyoming Supreme Court decided to keep it on hold while the legal fight continues.
What was the steamboat legacy scholarship?
Before the lawsuit, here’s what families hoped for:
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Program Structure: It was a universal ESA providing $7,000 per student each year, backed by $30 million. This would help with private school tuition, homeschool materials, tutoring, tech, and testing fees.
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Homeschool Eligibility: Yes, homeschool families could qualify but had to do annual standardized testing. This added oversight compared to what Wyoming usually requires.
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HB 199 Expansion: The 2025 legislature made the program available to everyone and raised the amount to $7,000 from the original proposal.
Why is the program blocked?
The Wyoming Education Association (WEA) challenged the program in court in June 2025, claiming it goes against Wyoming's constitution. Their arguments focus on education funding rules and uniformity.
In October 2025, the state Supreme Court decided not to lift the lower court’s block, meaning the program can’t start while the case is in court. This isn’t a final say on its legality—just a pause.
Timeline Uncertainty: Legal challenges can take a long time. The program might eventually get approved, changed, or canceled based on court decisions.
What would homeschoolers have needed to do?
If the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship ever launches, homeschool families would need to follow some rules:
- Annual Testing: Unlike the usual freedoms in Wyoming, ESA users would have to test their kids annually. This is a big change for families used to no state testing.
- Approved Expenses: Funds could only be used for qualifying expenses—like curriculum, tutoring, testing fees, and educational tech.
- Reporting: You’d need to document how you spent the funds, similar to other ESA programs.
Whether these requirements are worth it depends on what your family values. While $7,000 is a big deal, so is Wyoming's low-key approach to homeschooling.
Current funding alternatives
While the state program is on hold, Wyoming families can explore several federal options for funding.
What happens next?
The outcome of the lawsuit will shape if Wyoming families can access the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship:
- If it survives: Applications would open, and families could start using the $7,000 yearly. Testing would kick in.
- If struck down: The legislature might try to create a new program that fits legal requirements, but it’s not guaranteed to work.
- If modified: Sometimes courts allow programs to continue with changes. The final version might look different from the original.
For now, it's smart to focus on available options while watching the lawsuit's progress. Groups like HSLDA and Homeschoolers of Wyoming keep track of updates.
Wyoming homeschool regulations (current)
Wyoming is one of the most homeschool-friendly states, even without the ESA. Here’s what you need to know:
- Send curriculum info to your local school board (it’s just a notice, not for approval).
- No testing is required.
- You don't have to follow specific subjects, but a basic education program is expected.
- There are no qualifications needed for teachers.
This freedom is valuable. If the ESA starts with testing, families will need to think about whether they prefer the $7,000 in funding against more rules.
The bottom line
The Steamboat Legacy Scholarship had a lot of potential—$7,000 a year for homeschool families in a state that values educational freedom. But legal issues have paused those plans.
For now, Wyoming homeschoolers should consider federal funding options like Coverdell ESAs while keeping an eye on the lawsuit. The program might eventually start, change, or be canceled—no one can say for sure.
What we do know is that Wyoming's easy-going homeschool rules make it a great place to educate at home, no matter the funding situation. Resources are out there, and the supportive homeschool community can help while we wait for court decisions.
