By Kim Amen, President
Even though it’s summer, education is one of the hottest topics around the state.
In mid-June, the Wyoming Legislature’s Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration met to work on properly funding our state’s public schools. The committee meets every five years to adjust the funding model – or at least that’s what supposed to happen.
That hasn’t been the case in a long time.
In fact, 2010 was the last time the Wyoming State Legislature followed the recalibration recommendations to fund our public schools. For fifteen years, they have failed to adjust the funding model as required, leaving our schools to operate on outdated assumptions that no longer reflect the reality of educating Wyoming’s children.
An example of this failure is that the starting salary provided in the funding model for teachers is a mere $39,000—far below what is competitive or sustainable in today’s economy. To recruit and retain qualified teachers, districts are often forced to pay above the model, but without adequate funding, they must cut other critical areas to do so. This often means reducing support staff, delaying maintenance, or eliminating student services…which ultimately undermines the very support systems that help kids succeed.
This chronic underfunding is not just a policy failure: it’s a constitutional one. The recent ruling in Wyoming Education Association v. State of Wyoming made that clear. The court affirmed what educators, parents, and communities have long known: the legislature has a constitutional obligation to follow the recalibration process and fully fund education based on current needs and costs.
And this ruling must be a turning point.
The recalibration process exists to ensure school funding keeps pace with inflation, evolving student needs, and the realities facing Wyoming’s educators. It is a data-driven, expert-informed system designed to guarantee that every child in every corner of the state has access to a high-quality education.
The recalibration process is instrumental in making sure we are following the constitutional requirement for an equitable and modern education. When the legislature ignores this process, they don’t just break the law; they break trust with Wyoming families.
And these families know that our public schools are underfunded. In a May 2025 survey of Wyoming voters by the Republican polling firm American Viewpoint, a majority of those surveyed – including those on the left and the right – feel that Wyoming’s public schools receive too little funding once they learned more about how that funding model works.
On top of that, voters have another clear message: only 32 percent approve of the way our state’s legislators are handling public education.
Strong public schools are essential to student success. Adequate funding means up-to-date resources and technology, competitive salaries that retain experienced educators, manageable class sizes, and the support services students need to thrive. Recently, the consequences of underfunding have become even more visible: larger class sizes, fewer support staff (many of whom still don’t earn a living wage) and a lack of administrative support in schools.
These losses directly impact a teacher’s ability to meet the needs of students. Without adequate support, it becomes more difficult to build the meaningful relationships that help prevent behavioral issues. It becomes harder to give students one-on-one attention or to design the hands-on, engaging learning experiences we know are best practice.
In short, underfunding undermines everything that makes great teaching and learning possible.
And when students succeed, communities thrive. Public schools are the heart of Wyoming’s towns, especially our state’s rural areas. They are gathering places, employers, and economic engines. You don’t have to look any further than what is happening in Alpine, Wyoming, to see the importance of a school to a community. When we invest in education, we invest in the long-term health and prosperity of our communities.
The court’s decision in WEA v. State of Wyoming is not just a legal win—it’s a roadmap for the future. The legislature must now do its job: follow the recalibration recommendations, update the funding model, and fulfill its constitutional promise to our students.
The time for delays and game-playing is over. Our students can’t wait another year, let alone another decade. Wyoming’s future depends on strong public schools, and strong schools require serious investment.
The path forward is clear. Follow the law. Fund our schools. Strengthen our communities. Protect Wyoming’s public education.
