SF0018 • 2026

Attendance of students in K-12 schools.

AN ACT relating to enrollment of students in K-12 public schools; specifying the public schools of the state as being equally free and accessible to children attending school on a part‑time basis; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Education
Last action: 2026-02-27
Official status: enrolled
Effective date: 7/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about how part-time attendance will be calculated or the implications for students completing competency-based equivalency exams.

Making Public Schools Accessible to Part-Time Students

This law makes Wyoming's public schools free and open to all children, including those who attend school part-time.

What This Bill Does

Specifies that public schools in Wyoming are equally free and accessible to all children, including those attending on a part-time basis.
Requires each school district to operate its schools and classes for at least 175 days per year unless an alternative schedule is approved by the state board after public meetings.

Who It Names or Affects

Children attending Wyoming's K-12 public schools
Parents and guardians of children in these schools

Terms To Know

part-time basis: Attending school for fewer days or hours than a full-time student.
alternative schedule: A different set of dates and times that schools can use instead of the standard 175-day school year, if approved by the state board.

Limits and Unknowns

The law only applies to public schools in Wyoming.
It does not specify how part-time attendance will be calculated or what it means for students who complete competency-based equivalency exams.

Bill History

2026-02-27 LSO
Assigned Chapter Number 5
2026-02-27 Governor
Governor Signed SEA No. 0002
2026-02-26 House
H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0002
2026-02-25 Senate
S President Signed SEA No. 0002
2026-02-25 LSO
Assigned Number SEA No. 0002
2026-02-25 House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 59-0-3-0-0
2026-02-24 House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2026-02-23 House
H COW:Passed
2026-02-21 House
H Placed on General File
2026-02-21 House
H04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 6-0-3-0-0
2026-02-16 House
H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education
2026-02-13 House
H Received for Introduction
2026-02-13 Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0
2026-02-12 Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2026-02-11 Senate
S COW:Passed
2026-02-11 Senate
S Placed on General File
2026-02-11 Senate
S04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2026-02-09 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S04 - Education 31-0-0-0-0
2026-01-05 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2025-12-08 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 26LSO-0198

Bill No.:

SF0018

Effective:

7/1/2026

LSO No.:

26LSO-0198

Enrolled Act No.:

2

Chapter No.:

5

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Education Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Attendance of students in K-12 schools.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Attendance of students in K-12 public schools.

Summary/Major Elements:

Specifies that public schools in Wyoming are equally free and accessible to all children, including those attending on a part-time basis.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

26LSO-0198

ORIGINAL Senate

File No
.
SF0018

ENROLLED ACT NO. 2,

SENATE

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to enrollment of students in K-12 public schools; specifying the public schools of the state as being equally free and accessible to children attending school on a part‑time basis; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 21
‑
4
‑
301 is amended to read:

21
‑
4
‑
301.

Schools to be free and accessible to all children; minimum school year.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided by law, the public schools of each school district in the state shall at all times be equally free and accessible to all children
, including children attending school on a part
‑
time basis,
resident therein of five (5) years of age as of August 1, or September 15 if pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21
‑
3
‑
110(a)(xxxviii), of the year in which they may register in kindergarten as provided in W.S. 21
‑
4
‑
302(b) and under the age of twenty
‑
one (21), subject to regulations of the board of trustees.

(b)

Each school district shall operate its schools and its classes for a minimum of one hundred seventy
‑
five (175) days each school year unless an alternative schedule has been approved by the state board. Prior to submission of a proposed alternative schedule to the state board, the board of trustees shall hold at least two (2) advertised public meetings within the district, at which the board shall present the proposed alternative schedule and respond to public questions and comments. Any school district operating under an alternative schedule shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of that schedule in meeting the educational goals and purposes for which the schedule was adopted.

(b)
(c)

A parent, guardian or other person having control or charge of any child eligible to attend public school in Wyoming under subsection (a) of this section shall have the option to apply for the ESA program specified by W.S. 21
‑
2
‑
901 on behalf of the child.

Section 2.

W.S. 21
‑
4
‑
301 as amended by section 1 of this act, shall apply to enrollment of children beginning school year 2026
‑
2027 and each school year thereafter.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1