Wyoming's Supreme Court has cleared the way for lawmakers to overhaul the state's school funding system, directing the Legislature to determine the true costs of public education and establish a more sustainable model.
The court ruled September 17 that the Legislature must address the actual cost of teacher salaries and follow the state's statutory process for accounting for inflation in school funding. The decision also rejected additional requirements a lower court had imposed, affirming that the Legislature retains responsibility for meeting the state's constitutional education obligations while giving school districts flexibility to serve their communities.
"The responsibility before us is to ensure that investment reflects the actual cost of education, supports our teachers and students, and produces the outcomes Wyoming families expect," Governor Mark Gordon said in a statement.
Gordon emphasized that a successful education system requires funding based on actual costs, not merely increased spending. He stressed the need for a system that functions reliably during both strong revenue years and budget shortfalls, saying the state cannot continue to revisit fundamental education funding questions repeatedly. "We need a durable, transparent and constitutionally sound system that provides predictability for schools while protecting Wyoming taxpayers," he said.