Judge Keeps Wyoming School Voucher Lawsuit Alive

Wyoming’s controversial new school voucher program remains stuck in legal limbo after a Laramie County judge refused to toss out a lawsuit challenging it.

On Aug. 28, District Judge Peter Froelicher denied the state’s motion to dismiss, ruling that parents, educators, and the Wyoming Education Association do have the right to sue. He also rejected the state’s attempt to drop Treasurer Curt Meier as a defendant, keeping him on the hook along with Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder.

The program—dubbed the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act—was signed into law in March and promised $7,000 a year for every Wyoming student to cover non-public-school expenses like tuition, tutoring, or textbooks. Pre-K families under 250% of the federal poverty line would have also been eligible. Nearly 4,000 students applied after the program opened in May.

But critics argue the plan violates Wyoming’s constitution, which requires the state to provide a uniform system of public education. They say funneling taxpayer dollars to private schools—many of which can reject students with disabilities or LGBTQ+ identities—undermines those guarantees. Plaintiffs also argue it illegally hands out public money to families who may not need it.

So far, the courts have sided with the skeptics. Froelicher first hit pause in June with a temporary injunction, then extended it in July. He’s also blocked efforts to let the program roll out while the case plays out.

Degenfelder, a vocal champion of the voucher program, has voiced frustration, saying families who applied are now left in the lurch for the 2025–26 school year.

“The appeals process is still extensive,” she warned, noting that unless the Wyoming Supreme Court overturns the injunction, funds could remain frozen for months.

For now, the lawsuit moves forward—and Wyoming’s universal voucher experiment remains on hold.

The original story by Katie Klingsporn for WyoFile.