(The Center Square) – Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Tuesday signed a universal school choice bill into law.
This makes Wyoming the 15th state to have approved of a school choice initiative in the last four years.
“I applaud [State Senate] President Bo Biteman for his leadership and tenacity in advancing two key conservative priorities, making Wyoming the first state in the nation to implement a Pre-K voucher program to empower parents with more choices for young learners,” Gordon said at a media gathering. “This Act also expands education savings accounts for K-12 students to give families greater flexibility to choose the best educational path for their children.”
The Center Square reached out to author and school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis for comment. DeAngelis called this is huge victory for all Wyoming families.
“We’re winning so much,” said DeAngelis, whose resume includes work for Reason Foundation, Liberty Justice Center and Cato Institute, “Red states are operating like the laboratories of democracy our founders envisioned by competing to empower all families with education freedom.”
Unions and other critics of school choice say it takes “scarce funding from public schools” that still serve most of today’s students and give it to unaccountable private schools. Supporters of school choice dismiss these claims and add that it is important to “fund students and not systems.”
Ryan Cantrell, vice president of Government Affairs at American Federation for Children was glad the Wyoming legislature passed the bill and sent it to the governor for signature.
“Voters across the country are demanding school choice, and Wyoming is just the latest example of legislators responding to the voices of their constituents,” Cantrell said in a late February press release. “Today, we celebrate with the Wyoming families, students, educators, and advocates who stood up to demand their right to education freedom.”
A news release from American Federation for Children states that, among other things, all Wyoming K-12 students will be eligible for up to $7,000 per child. The Wyoming State Superintendent will oversee the program. Gordon praised those accountability measures.
“The school choice revolution marches on,” said DeAngelis. “More government school monopoly dominoes will fall this year.”
School-choice states near Wyoming include Idaho and Utah.
