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.
ChildrenEducation
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 official bill summary does not provide detailed information about specific requirements or changes related to virtual, online, or long-distance education programs beyond mentioning them in passing.
Making Public Schools Accessible to Part-Time Students
This law makes Wyoming's public schools equally free and accessible to all children, including those who attend school on a part-time basis.
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.
Who It Names or Affects
All students in Wyoming's K-12 public schools
School districts that must follow the new rules about part-time attendance
Terms To Know
Average Daily Membership (ADM)
The total number of students present each day, used to calculate funding for schools.
Competency-Based Equivalency Examinations
Tests that allow students to earn credits based on their knowledge and skills rather than time spent in class.
Limits and Unknowns
The law does not specify how schools will handle part-time attendance beyond the basic requirement of accessibility.
It is unclear if there are additional rules or changes needed for virtual, online, or long-distance education programs.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: 1
SF0018H2001
1 Page 1-line 4 After "school" insert "virtually or"; after
2 "basis;" insert "modifying average daily
3 membership utilized in the education resource
4 block grant model for students that
5 successfully complete competency-based
6 equivalency examinations; requiring
7 rulemaking;".
1
SF0018H2001
1 Page 1-line 4 After "school" insert "virtually or"; after
2 "basis;" insert "modifying average daily
3 membership utilized in the education resource
4 block grant model for students that
5 successfully complete competency-based
6 equivalency examinations; requiring
7 rulemaking;".
Plain English: 1
SF0018H2002
1 Page 1-line 4 After "basis;" insert "decreasing the
2 percentage of days in school required for full
3 time status; amending definitions;"
4
5 Page 1-line 9 Delete "is" and insert "and 21-13-101(a)(i)
6 are".
1
SF0018H2002
1 Page 1-line 4 After "basis;" insert "decreasing the
2 percentage of days in school required for full
3 time status; amending definitions;"
4
5 Page 1-line 9 Delete "is" and insert "and 21-13-101(a)(i)
6 are".
7
8 Page 3-after line 6 Insert:
9
10 "21-13-101.
Definitions.
11
12 (a) As used in this chapter:
13
14 (i) "Average daily membership" or "ADM" means the
15 aggregate number of pupils present plus the aggregate number of
16 pupils absent, divided by the actual number of days the school is
17 in session for the year.
Plain English: 1
SF0018H3001
1 Page 1-line 4 After "school" insert "virtually or"; after
2 "basis;" insert "modifying average daily
3 membership utilized in the education resource
4 block grant model for students that
5 successfully complete competency-based
6 equivalency examinations; requiring
7 rulemaking;".
1
SF0018H3001
1 Page 1-line 4 After "school" insert "virtually or"; after
2 "basis;" insert "modifying average daily
3 membership utilized in the education resource
4 block grant model for students that
5 successfully complete competency-based
6 equivalency examinations; requiring
7 rulemaking;".
Plain English: 1
SF0018H3002
1 Page 1-line 4 After "basis;" insert "decreasing the
2 percentage of days in school required for full
3 time status; amending definitions;"
4
5 Page 1-line 9 Delete "is" and insert "and 21-13-101(a)(i)
6 are".
1
SF0018H3002
1 Page 1-line 4 After "basis;" insert "decreasing the
2 percentage of days in school required for full
3 time status; amending definitions;"
4
5 Page 1-line 9 Delete "is" and insert "and 21-13-101(a)(i)
6 are".
7
8 Page 3-after line 5 Insert:
9
10 "21-13-101.
Definitions.
11
12 (a) As used in this chapter:
13
14 (i) "Average daily membership" or "ADM" means the
15 aggregate number of pupils present plus the aggregate number of
16 pupils absent, divided by the actual number of days the school is
17 in session for the year.
Plain English: 1
SF0018HW001
1 Page 1-line 4 After "school" insert "virtually or"; after
2 "basis;" insert "modifying average daily
3 membership utilized in the education resource
4 block grant model for students that
5 successfully complete competency-based
6 equivalency examinations; requiring
7 rulemaking;".
1
SF0018HW001
1 Page 1-line 4 After "school" insert "virtually or"; after
2 "basis;" insert "modifying average daily
3 membership utilized in the education resource
4 block grant model for students that
5 successfully complete competency-based
6 equivalency examinations; requiring
7 rulemaking;".
10
11 Page 2-line 1 After "basis" insert "or through virtual,
12 online or long-distance education programs".
13
14 Page 3-after line 5 Insert the following and renumber as
15 necessary:
16
17 "Section 2.
Bill History
2026-02-27LSO
Assigned Chapter Number 5
2026-02-27Governor
Governor Signed SEA No. 0002
2026-02-26House
H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0002
2026-02-25Senate
S President Signed SEA No. 0002
2026-02-25LSO
Assigned Number SEA No. 0002
2026-02-25House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 59-0-3-0-0
2026-02-24House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2026-02-23House
H COW:Passed
2026-02-21House
H Placed on General File
2026-02-21House
H04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 6-0-3-0-0
2026-02-16House
H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education
2026-02-13House
H Received for Introduction
2026-02-13Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0
2026-02-12Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2026-02-11Senate
S COW:Passed
2026-02-11Senate
S Placed on General File
2026-02-11Senate
S04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2026-02-09Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S04 - Education 31-0-0-0-0
2026-01-05Senate
S Received for Introduction
2025-12-08LSO
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