Steamboat Legacy Scholarship
The Steamboat Legacy Education Savings Account (ESA) is from HB199 in the Wyoming 2025 legislative session. The legislature has worked on several bills over the years to divert funds to an ESA so parents can have a choice to pay for something outside of the traditional public school. This has been the most successful to date.
This fund provides up to $7000 per student (with a $30M cap), which can be used on approved private school and homeschool expenses.
Who is Qualified to Receive the ESA?
Wyoming resident students from age 4 and in pre-k through grade 12 are eligible for this scholarship. Proof of residency and age is required. Only students eligible to be enrolled in public schools but who are not enrolled for the following school year are able to receive this funding.
Casper Christian School is a qualified educational service provider for the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship and is currently accepting applications! CCS is also ACSI and COGNIA accredited.
What Can the ESA Money Be Used For?
Families can use these ESA funds for various expenses, including:
- Tuition and fees at a participating school
- Tutoring services
- Classes or extracurricular activities at public schools.
- Textbooks and curriculum
- Educational technology
- School uniforms
- Summer and after-school education programs.
- Tuition and fees for nongovernmental online learning programs
- Educational therapies (e.g. behavioural/speech-language therapy)
- Costs for college admission tests and AP exams
- Transportation costs for education service providers
- Other expenses: this list may not be comprehensive
How and When Can We Apply?
For parents who applied last year and were approved, the portal will open on May 1st. There was never money approved last year; however, the process was started. This was in the legislature last year but never came to fruition.
On May 15, 2025, the portal will open for all families between noon and 2 pm MST.
School Tuition Process: edu.wyoming.gov/parents/education-savings-accounts
- The family selects the school in a drop-down menu during the application process.
- The school confirms enrollment and tuition for the ESA Student through the portal.
- Payment to the school for tuition and fees is managed through the portal.
- Each approved student is eligible for $7000 that will be paid to the school in quarterly payments.
What Do I Need to Prepare Before Applying?
Before applying to the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship fund, you should have the following documents ready:
- Student Status Documentation: Proof of student status, including either a birth certificate, passport, or other state-approved age-verifying document. If the parent does not have any of the above documentation, please contact the WDE for guidance.
- Residency Documentation: The student must be a resident of Wyoming. As proof of residency, a parent must provide documentation such as:
- Wyoming vehicle registration card
- Proof of Wyoming home ownership, such as a mortgage document, warranty deed, or homeowner’s insurance
- Two Wyoming utility bills from two different companies, not more than 90 days old and not including termination notices
- Current residential rental or lease agreement
- Prior year tax records that show a Wyoming address matching the application address
- Proof of public assistance through a Wyoming state agency
- Proof of military duty assignment in Wyoming, or Wyoming state residency as active military personnel
- Other documentation as determined by the WDE
This information is not guaranteed to be accurate or up to date. Please refer to the state website for the latest information.