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School board authority in Wyoming

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Wyoming state law makes school boards responsible for governing and managing public school districts in the state. This article details the powers and duties Wyoming law grants to school boards for governing school districts and the constraints on that authority with regard to certain topics.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Wyoming is one of 26 states that has a Parents' Bill of Rights.
  • Wyoming state law allows, but does not require, public employees to engage in collective bargaining.
  • School boards are authorized to collect fingerprints from school employees that may have access to minors at their discretion.[1]
  • Wyoming school boards are legally required to consider every petition that is submitted to them and signed by at least five citizens of the school district.[1]


    • Types of legal and contractual constraints on school board authority

    See also: Local school board authority across the 50 states

    This page presents the results from Ballotpedia research on school board authority and constraints on that authority in all 50 states as of 2024. School board authority comes from state constitutions and state statutes and can be interpreted or specified by state regulations or court decisions. In addition to authority over district budgets, the selection of a superintendent, and administrative responsibilities, school boards have varying levels of authority over district policy on other topics depending on the state and district.

    There are several sources of legal and contractual constraints on school board policy-making authority which also vary by state or by district.

    • State laws commonly restrict or mandate school board policies on certain topics.
      • Parents' Bills of Rights, which at least 26 states have in statute to some degree, limit the policies school boards are allowed to pass.
    • State rules, guidance, and funding incentives can constrain, mandate, or influence school board policies. These include regulation from state education commissions and superintendents, executive orders from governors, or grant conditions.
    • Federal and state court rulings can dictate whether or not school district policies are compatible with state law or federal law.
    • The federal government, largely through its Department of Education, can promulgate regulations or guidance that influence district policy or make funding contingent on certain policies.
    • Collective bargaining agreements between school districts and teacher unions can create contractual constraints on the policies school boards can pass.
    • State school board associations can influence school board policy or, in some cases. enter into contracts with school boards that can limit school board policy.

    This page features the following sections:

    School board authority over district policy in Wyoming

    Enabling or authorizing statute for the boards of school districts in Wyoming

    See also: Enabling statute

    Wyoming Statute 21-3-101 through 21-3-104 creates different types of school districts and gives them authority to operate according to state law:[1]

    “

    21-3-101. School districts bodies corporate. Each school district now or hereafter legally organized within this state shall be a body corporate.

    21-3-102. Elementary school districts. Every school district in the state offering an educational program in grades kindergarten through eight (8) only is hereby declared to be an elementary school district. The name of an elementary school district shall be in form as follows: "Elementary School District No. ...., in the County of ...., and State of Wyoming."

    21-3-103. High school districts. Every school district in the state offering an educational program in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) only is hereby declared to be a high school district. The name of a high school district shall be in form as follows: ".... .... High School District, State of Wyoming."

    21-3-104. Unified school districts. Every school district in the state offering an educational program in grades kindergarten through twelve (12) is hereby declared to be a unified school district. The name of a unified school district shall be in form as follows: ".... County School District Number ...., State of Wyoming." [2]

    		”

    Wyoming school boards' powers and duties

    Wyoming public school boards of directors are given over 80 specific duties or powers to administer the public schools in the Wyoming. Wyoming Statutes 21-3-110 details duties that school boards are required to perform and Wyoming Statutes 21-3-111 lists authorities that school boards may exercise at their discretion.

    Some required duties of school boards include:

    • considering every petition submitted to the board that has been signed by at least 5 citizens of the school district,
    • providing an educational program for the schools that complies with Wyoming statutory requirements,
    • creating and implementing a teacher evaluation system,
    • adopting a student assessment system, and
    • creating policy and training procedures regarding the use of seclusion and restraint in schools.

    Some discretionary duties of school boards include:

    • employing and deciding the salaries of superintendents, principals, teachers, and other employees,
    • firing employees of the district,
    • providing for school lunch programs,
    • creating a school bus driver training program,
    • collecting fingerprints from employees that may have access to minors, and
    • creating an adult education program

    The full list of powers and duties school district boards are charged with in Wyoming Statutes 21-3-110 and 21-3-111 is as follows:[1]

    “

    21-3-110. Duties of boards of trustees.

    (a) The board of trustees in each school district shall:

    (i) Prescribe and enforce rules, regulations and policies for its own government and for the government of the schools under its jurisdiction. Rules and regulations shall be consistent with the laws of the state and rules and regulations of the state board and the state superintendent and shall be open to public inspection;

    (ii) Keep minutes of all meetings at which official action is taken and a record of all official acts including a record of all warrants issued against the monies belonging to the school district. The minutes and records shall be public records. A list of each warrant over five hundred dollars ($500.00) shall be published one (1) time in a legal newspaper of general circulation within the respective county within thirty (30) days of the date of the meeting. Individual yearly gross salary payments need be published only once in March of each year:

    (A) Each individual annual gross salary shall be identified by category and each individual salary shall be published as a gross dollar amount without identification other than by category. Categories shall include superintendent, assistant superintendent, high school principal, assistant high school principal, junior high principal, junior high assistant principals, elementary principals, elementary assistant principals, first grade teachers, second grade teachers, third grade teachers, fourth grade teachers, fifth grade teachers, sixth grade teachers, kindergarten teachers, high school departmental teachers (business, language arts, world languages, science, social studies, mathematics, or other), vocal music, instrumental music, elementary music, secondary art, elementary art, secondary physical education, elementary physical education, career and technical education, secondary guidance counselors, secondary librarians, elementary librarians, driver education, special education teachers, remedial teachers, nurses, teacher's aides, head coaches, assistant coaches, dramatics, secondary secretarial, junior high secretarial, elementary secretarial, business managers, janitorial, bus drivers, and other categories which may be selected so that every individual salary may be categorized. Each category shall show a cumulative subtotal and there shall be a grand total of all categories. At the end of the salary publication there shall be printed the district salary schedule;

    (B) Forms shall be furnished to the school districts by the state department of education for such publications which shall be the same in all unified districts.

    (iii) Elect from its membership at the first regular meeting after December 1 of each year, a chairman, a vice-chairman, a clerk and a treasurer;

    (iv) Fix the time and place of regular meetings; provided, that there shall be at least one (1) meeting per month. Any meeting which is not a regular meeting shall be a special meeting;

    (v) Submit reports concerning finances or any other matter as the state board, state superintendent or state law may require;

    (vi) Estimate the amount of funds required to be raised for public school purposes through a tax levy upon the property lying within the district and in accordance with the Uniform Municipal Fiscal Procedures Act present to the board of county commissioners of each county included in whole or in part within the district a certified copy of the budget as finally adopted with a certified estimate of the tax required to raise the appropriate amount. This tax shall be levied, collected and distributed as prescribed by law;

    (vii) Control and disburse all moneys received from any source to maintain the schools within the district;

    (viii) Obtain competitive bids when any purchase of insurance, supplies or materials other than textbooks costing more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) and less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) is contemplated unless precluded by other regulation or statute. If the amount of the purchase of insurance, supplies or materials other than textbooks is equal to or exceeds fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), a call for bids shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the district and on the state procurement website, as defined in W.S. 9-2-3001(b)(vii). For any contract for a capital construction project with an estimated value in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), the board shall publish a call for bids in a newspaper of general circulation in the district at least once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks. All contracts for capital construction projects shall be let in accordance with W.S. 9-2-3004 and 9-2-3006 except as provided in this paragraph. The district shall reserve the right to reject any and all bids and to waive irregularities and informalities in any bid, as defined in W.S. 9-2-3001(b)(v). No contract shall be divided for the purpose of avoiding this paragraph. Items for which bids must be obtained may be described in the published call for bids by stating general requirements and making detailed specifications available to prospective bidders at the district's administrative headquarters. A district shall independently meet the requirements of this paragraph when procuring goods or services that are subject to this paragraph through a board of cooperative educational services;

    (ix) Require the treasurer of the board of trustees and the school district superintendent to give such bond in such penalty and with such sureties as the board may direct, conditioned upon the faithful application of all moneys and property which may come into his hands by virtue of his office. The bond shall not exceed one and one fourth of the amount of all school moneys handled by such officer in any one (1) year. Such bonds after being approved by the board and by an attorney selected by the board as to form and execution shall be filed with the county treasurer and no disbursements shall be made until such bonds shall have been approved and filed as required by this section. In case of breach of conditions of such bonds, suit shall be brought thereon by the board for the benefit of the district;

    (x) Subject to review by the school facilities commission under W.S. 21-15-117 for any project involving state capital construction assistance, fix the site of each school building and facility considering the needs of the people of each portion of the district. If the district enters into an agreement to lease buildings and facilities owned by the district and the buildings and facilities are included within the statewide database maintained by the state construction department under W.S. 21-15-123(f)(iv), the district shall, except as provided under W.S. 21-15-109(c)(i)(A)(II) and (III) and (B), ensure the lease agreement requires sufficient payment from the lessee to cover expenses necessary to adequately maintain the facility or building in accordance with statewide adequacy standards prescribed by the commission. If the district or a charter school operating within the boundaries of the district enters into an agreement to lease buildings and facilities under which the district or the charter school is the lessee and the building is to be used for the provision of the required educational program within the district, the lease agreement shall require the lessor to adequately maintain the buildings and facilities in accordance with standards prescribed by the commission. The lease agreement shall separately identify the amount to be expended on the major maintenance of the building or facility during the term of the lease. The amount of the total lease agreement to be expended on the major maintenance shall be accounted for and reported separately and shall not be transferred or expended for any purpose other than major maintenance of the leased building or facility. No expenditure shall be made from the funds dedicated for major maintenance of a leased facility without the approval of the district or the charter school. A district or charter school may request review of the amount to be expended on major maintenance for a lease by the school facilities division of the state construction department to determine the reasonableness of the major maintenance expense. The district shall be reimbursed for the lease payment of the district or the charter school if the square footage of the leased facility is not included within the district's total square footage for purposes of major maintenance computations under W.S. 21-15-109, subject to the following:

    (A) If the lease payment is for educational facilities used in the actual operation of a charter school, the state construction department shall pay the district the contract amount approved by the department for the lease payment by the charter school if:

    (I) The charter is approved under W.S. 21- 3-301 through 21-3-314;

    (II) The department determines no adequate educational facilities exist within the applicable district for operation of the charter school;

    (III) Repealed by Laws 2024, ch. 11, § 1.

    (IV) The district pays the charter school the amount of the reimbursement received under this subparagraph.

    (B) Any payment made by the department pursuant to this paragraph for a leased building or facility shall not exceed the average cost per square foot to lease buildings or facilities comparable to those appropriate for public K-12 education multiplied by the total square feet leased by the district or charter school necessary to deliver the required educational program. The average cost per square foot for comparable buildings or facilities shall:

    (I) Be as determined by the department;

    (II) Be comparable in location and type to the building or facility leased by the district or charter school; and

    (III) Not include any cost for utilities or routine maintenance.

    (C) If the lease payment is for facilities leased to the district or a charter school by a state institution which meets state adequacy standards prescribed by rule and regulation of the commission, the amount of the lease reimbursement paid by the state construction department shall not include the amount received by the institution from the state for major building and facility repair and replacement costs attributable to the facility, as computed by the department.

    (xi) Adopt and use an official seal when required to authenticate official acts;

    (xii) Cause the United States and Wyoming flags to be properly displayed in, upon, or around school buildings within the district;

    (xiii) Consider every petition presented to the board and subscribed by at least five (5) citizens of the school district and take some action on such petition within thirty (30) days after it is received; provided, that no action shall be required if the precise question presented by the petition has been considered and acted upon by the board of trustees at any meeting held within the current fiscal year;

    (xiv) Require an accounting of all receipts and expenditures to be made by each organization, function, or other group sponsored by, or functioning in any way within the schools of the district, such accounting to be made by each such organization, function, or group at least once each year and a copy thereof posted in each school building connected with such organization, function, or group;

    (xv) Provide an educational program within the schools under its jurisdiction in compliance with uniform state standards prescribed under W.S. 21-9-101 and 21-9-102 and by rule and regulation of the state board and on or before November 1 of each school year, report to the department evidence of the alignment of its assessment system with the uniform state standards provided within its schools;

    (xvi)(A) Publish the following notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district at least two (2) times each year, once within a week after the first regular meeting in December and once as a part of the statement of revenue and expenditures of the district: Notice of School Board Meetings and Availability of Minutes Notice is hereby given that regular meetings of the board of trustees of .... County School District Number ...., State of Wyoming, are held each month, at .... o'clock on .... (here insert days or dates) in Room .... of the .... school building in .... (city or town), Wyoming, and such meetings are open to the public. Notice is also given that official minutes of each regular or special meeting of such board, including a record of all official acts and of all warrants issued, are available for inspection by any citizen during regular office hours at the office of the clerk of said district, at .... (here insert address of office). ........................... Chairman, Board of Trustees ............. County School District, Number ..........

    (B) If the board changes the time and place of its regular meetings, then such notice shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district, once before such change shall become effective;

    (C) All meetings of the board are subject to W.S. 16-4-401 through 16-4-408.

    (xvii) Require the performance of each initial contract teacher to be evaluated once a year against the school district's standards for performance, as submitted and approved pursuant to W.S. 21-2-304(b)(xv). The evaluation shall be in writing and an opportunity for feedback to improve performance shall be provided. The teacher shall receive a copy of each evaluation of his performance;

    (xviii) Establish a teacher performance evaluation system and require the performance of each continuing contract teacher to be evaluated against the school district's standards for performance, as submitted and approved pursuant to W.S. 21- 2-304(b)(xv), once a year until the teacher has been classified as effective under the performance evaluation system utilized by the school district for two (2) consecutive years. Upon a classification of effective for two (2) consecutive years, evaluation shall occur at minimum once every three (3) years. The teacher shall receive a copy of each evaluation of his performance;

    (xix) Performance evaluations required under paragraphs (a)(xvii) and (xviii) of this section shall serve as a basis for improvement of instruction, enhancement of curriculum program implementation, measurement of both individual teacher performance and professional growth and development and the performance level of all teachers within the school district, and as documentation for unsatisfactory performance that may lead to dismissal, suspension and termination proceedings under W.S. 21-7-110;

    (xx) Establish and maintain kindergartens in connection with the public schools of the district with at least one (1) full-day kindergarten program available within the district;

    (xxi) Report to the state department of education the actual average class size and range of class sizes for grades kindergarten through five (5) and for reading or English and language arts and mathematics classes for grades six (6) through twelve (12). These reports shall be publicly available;

    (xxii) In accordance with guidelines established by the state superintendent under W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxii), implement standards for the storage and disposal of toxic chemicals and other hazardous substances used by schools within the district for educational programs;

    (xxiii) Implement and administer the reading screening and intervention program for students in kindergarten through grade three (3) as required by W.S. 21-3-401;

    (xxiv) Adopt a student assessment system to measure student performance relative to the uniform student content and performance standards in all content areas for which the state board has promulgated standards pursuant to W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iii). To the extent required by W.S. 21-2-204 and 21-2-304(a)(vi), the district assessment system shall be integrated with the statewide assessment system and the statewide accountability system. Components of the district assessment system required by this paragraph shall be designed and used to determine the various levels of student performance in all content areas of the uniform student content and performance standards relative to the common core of knowledge and skills prescribed under W.S. 21-9-101(b). The district shall report to the state board in accordance with W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iv) on its assessment system adopted under this paragraph;

    (xxv) At minimum and on or before November 1 of each school year, report to the department of education evidence that the district is compliant with high school graduation standards imposed by the state board under W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iii) and the high school certificate of completion requirements imposed by the state board under W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iv); (xxvi) Provide access to district records and other information by the department of audit as necessary to conduct audits and studies under W.S. 9-1-513 and otherwise cooperate with the department of audit when conducting audits and studies of the district pursuant to W.S. 9-1-513. The board shall also submit a written response to the department of audit on each audit and report conducted on the district in accordance with W.S. 9-1-513;

    (xxvii) Cooperate with the state construction department in developing facility plans for the district addressing district-wide building and facility needs in accordance with W.S. 21-15-116 and rule and regulation of the school facilities commission;

    (xxviii) Annually report to the state superintendent on district expenditures for career and technical education programs, broken down by school, and submitted in a manner and form required by rule and regulation of the state superintendent;

    (xxix) Beginning in school year 2017-2018, and each school year thereafter, administer a program where all students enrolled in the eleventh and twelfth grades in the district shall be required to take or be provided the opportunity to take, on a date or dates specified by the state superintendent, a standardized college entrance examination or a career readiness examination in accordance with W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxx). Each school district shall provide the opportunity for all home school and private school students in the eleventh and twelfth grades and residing within the district to take the examinations at no cost to the student on the same date or dates administered to all eleventh and twelfth grade public school students in the state. The results of the examinations may be included in each student's transcript;

    (xxx) Not later than school year 2018-2019 and each school year thereafter, in addition to paragraphs (xvii), (xviii) and (xix), require the performance of each school district leader, including superintendents and principals and other district or school leaders serving in a similar capacity to be evaluated each year in accordance with the professional standards established by the state board of education under W.S. 21-2-304(b)(xvi);

    (xxxi) Not later than December 31, 2011, adopt a policy and training procedures regarding the use of seclusion and restraint in schools. In addition to any requirements provided by rule and regulation of the state superintendent pursuant to W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxii), the policy shall require that the parent or legal guardian of the student shall be notified each time that seclusion or restraint is utilized for the student. The policy shall prohibit the use of locked seclusion. The policy shall not be limited to any specified group of students and shall apply any time that seclusion or restraint is used for any student. The district shall submit a copy of the policy to the state superintendent for review as provided in W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxii), after the initial adoption of the policy and any time thereafter that the policy is substantially revised. As used in this paragraph:

    (A) "Restraint" means the use of physical force, with or without the use of any physical device or material, to restrict the free movement of all or a portion of a student's body. "Restraint" does not include comforting or calming a student, holding the hand or arm of a student to escort the student if the student is complying, intervening in a fight or using an assistive or protective device prescribed by an appropriately trained professional or professional team;

    (B) "Seclusion" means removing a student from a classroom or other school activity and isolating the student in a separate area. "Seclusion" does not include a student requested break or in-school suspension, detention or other appropriate disciplinary measure.

    (xxxii) Commencing school year 2011-2012, adopt protocols to address risks associated with concussions and other head injuries resulting from athletic injuries. Implementation of this paragraph shall be subject to the immunity provisions of the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act. The protocols shall:

    (A) Include training of coaches and athletic trainers to facilitate the recognition of symptoms of concussions;

    (B) Address restrictions concerning participation in school athletic events after suffering a concussion or head injury;

    (C) Include means for providing to students and parents information on head injuries and concussions and related restrictions on participation in athletic activities.

    (xxxiii) Commencing with school year 2014-2015 and each school year thereafter, with funds made available to the district under the Wyoming education resource block grant model as defined under W.S. 21-13-101(a)(xiv), require each teacher and school administrator within the district to receive at least eight (8) hours of suicide prevention education every four (4) school years using suitable materials reviewed and recommended by the state superintendent under W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxv). Any teacher or school administrator shall receive at least two (2) hours of suicide prevention education during the initial school year of employment with the district if the teacher or school administrator has not received suicide prevention training complying with this paragraph prior to employment. Suicide prevention education may consist of self-review of approved suitable materials. The board shall make all suicide prevention education materials and classes available to interested community members;

    (xxxiv) Effective school year 2015-2016, in conjunction with district accreditation, as a component of the statewide education accountability system and in accordance with W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxvi), be subject to a review by the department of education once every five (5) years on the alignment of the district's assessment system with the uniform state education standards promulgated by the state board, and the district's adherence to the uniform graduation standards prescribed by the state board under W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iii);

    (xxxv) Effective January 1, 2018, adopt and enforce a policy regarding the collection, access, privacy, security and use of student data in accordance with guidelines established by the state superintendent under W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxvii);

    (xxxvi) Participate in programs of the department of workforce services necessary to receive premium discounts for the state worker's compensation program;

    (xxxvii) Procure the professional services of architects, engineers and surveyors in accordance with W.S. 9- 23-101 through 9-23-107.

    (xxxviii) Establish a process in policy to approve or deny requests made by a pupil's parent or guardian based on the pupil's kindergarten readiness assessment score to assess whether the pupil is sufficiently mature to be admitted to the applicable grade;

    (xxxix) Define "unexcused absence", "habitual truant" and "willful absenteeism" for all students who are attending public schools and establish rules regarding student attendance. For purposes of this paragraph, an absence preapproved by the district or an absence due to an illness, injury or the health care needs of the student or a death or serious illness in the student's family shall not constitute an unexcused absence. Students participating in programming or competitions sponsored by nationally recognized organizations and clubs that promote youth agricultural education, the annual state fair held under W.S. 11-10-101 as an exhibitor or events associated with participation in the annual state fair shall be considered as participating in a district cocurricular activity program and the student's absence shall be defined by the board as an excused absence. Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a school district from requesting verification of the reasons for an absence;

    (xl) Upon receipt of the information that the department of workforce services is required to provide under W.S. 9-2-2602(b)(ix) and not later than sixty (60) days after July 1, 2023:

    (A) Establish guidelines to implement student training and employment programs in schools in the district;

    (B) Take all necessary steps to provide appropriate school credit to students who complete student training and employment programs offered in the district and comply with the guidelines established pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph;

    (C) Annually give to each high school student in the district information on apprenticeships, student learner agreements and on-the-job training opportunities;

    (D) Provide information as requested by the department of workforce services to ensure compliance with reports required under W.S. 9-2-2602(e).

    (xli) Review and make a written determination whether a transfer of enrollment shall be granted or denied under W.S. 21-4-302.2. The written determination shall be made within ten (10) business days after receiving a request to transfer a pupil to a particular public school under W.S. 21-4-302.2;

    (xlii) Adopt policies, procedures and rules necessary to implement the provisions of W.S. 21-3-135;

    (xliii) Require communication and disclosure to a parent or guardian regarding their student to ensure the protection of parental rights under W.S. 14-2-206.

    (b) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 84, § 2.

    21-3-111. Powers of boards of trustees.

    (a) The board of trustees in each school district within the state may:

    (i) Sue and be sued in the name by which the district is designated;

    (ii) Acquire, hold, convey, lease, rent, and manage property, real and personal, for the benefit of the school district in the name by which the district is designated, either alone or jointly with another public or private agency, institution, person, or corporation. This includes leasing of real property under W.S. 21-15-112;

    (iii) Enter into agreements with any public or private agency, institution, person, or corporation for the performance of acts or furnishing of services or facilities by or for the school district;

    (iv) Employ legal counsel and bear the cost of litigation;

    (v) Accept or reject any federal or other gift, grant, bequest, or devise;

    (vi) Employ and determine the salaries and duties of:

    (A) A superintendent of schools who shall be the chief administrative officer of the district;

    (B) Principals who shall assume the administrative responsibility and instructional leadership of any schools to which they are assigned in accordance with policies adopted by the board of trustees, provided that in the event a superintendent of schools shall request recommendations from a principal concerning the suspension, dismissal, assignment, transfer or termination of any teacher employed in the school to which the principal is assigned, such recommendation shall be given only after periodic evaluation of the teacher's classroom performance;

    (C) Teachers who shall provide the expertise in their areas of instruction;

    (D) Other certified professional employees; and

    (E) Other personnel.

    (vii) Discharge any employee subject to the provisions of any applicable law governing the procedure for terminating the employment of school district employees;

    (viii) Insure against loss of property;

    (ix) Repealed By Laws 1997 Special Session, ch. 3, § 502.

    (x) Become members of county, state, and national school board associations and pay dues to such associations. A board of trustees may at its discretion pay necessary travel expenses and per diem of members and personnel attending meetings of such associations at a rate not to exceed that paid state employees;

    (xi) Provide for the operation of school lunch programs in schools under its jurisdiction;

    (xii) Require any officer or employee whose duty it is to handle funds or property of the district, including activity accounts, to be bonded under a suitable individual or blanket bond indemnifying the district against loss. The board shall determine the amount and type of the bond;

    (xiii) Acquire for the school district, by condemnation, the fee simple title to any real estate situated within the district as a site for any public school buildings or school grounds or for any other necessary or beneficial school purpose, or any lesser interest, including easements and rights-of-way, when necessary in the proper maintenance and operation of the school system;

    (xiv) Subject to W.S. 21-6-217(b), convey, with or without consideration, title to real property which is not being used and will not be used by the district to the state or its political subdivisions for public use;

    (xv) Convey or otherwise divest, with or without consideration, title to personal property which is not being used and will not be used by the district to the extent not prohibited by Article 16, Section 6, Wyoming Constitution;

    (xvi) Repealed by Laws 2021, ch. 163, § 2.

    (xvii) Establish a school bus driver training program in accordance with W.S. 21-3-131(a);

    (xviii) Establish and maintain a program of adult education;

    (xix) Develop policies and pest control methods including emergency policies, to minimize risk to students and employees, school property and the environment;

    (xx) Enter into school building construction and renovation project agreements with the state construction department as authorized under W.S. 21-15-123(f)(v);

    (xxi) Request the fingerprints of any employee initially hired by a school district on or after July 1, 1996, who may have access to minors in the course of the employee's employment, as provided by W.S. 7-19-106(a)(xxvi) and 7-19-201(a)(iii). The school district shall pay for the costs associated with the request;

    (xxii) Enter into or authorize the district superintendent to enter into student learner agreements as defined by W.S. 27-14-102(a)(xxxiv) with any employer pursuant to W.S. 27-14-110;

    (xxiii) Confer a Wyoming seal of biliteracy or an advanced distinction Wyoming seal of biliteracy upon a graduating high school student in accordance with W.S. 21-2- 202(a)(xl). Not later than October 15 of each year, each school district shall report to the state superintendent the number of seals of biliteracy issued during the prior school year, the languages the students learned and the type of seal conferred.

    (b) Not later than January 1, 1998, the board of trustees of each school district that has established trustee residence areas before that date shall:

    (i) Establish by resolution that all trustees shall be elected at-large from the entire district; or

    (ii) Establish by resolution a structure for electing members to the board through trustee residence areas with not less than two (2) members of the board elected at-large from the entire district. If the board establishes trustee residence areas under this paragraph, one (1) or more members shall be elected from each area. The boundaries of the trustee residence areas shall be established so that the total deviation in the population between the areas with the greatest and least population shall not, to the extent practicable, exceed ten percent (10%). Data from the last federal census shall be used in determining population within an area for the purpose of implementing this paragraph. The resolution shall include a process for implementing this change so that all elected trustees may serve their full term but that any vacancy shall be filled so as to implement the change as soon as practicable.

    (c) Not later than January 1 of any year in which a general election will be held, the board of trustees of any school district may elect to adopt a resolution under paragraph (b)(i) of this section to have all trustees elected at-large. A board of trustees for a district in which all members are elected at-large may adopt a resolution to establish trustee residence areas under paragraph (b)(ii) of this section only as of January 1 of the first year which follows a decennial federal census and in which a general election will be held. [2]

    		”

    Constraints on Wyoming school boards' authority

    This section tracks constraints on school boards specific to Wyoming as of September 2024. It features constraints on school boards' authority from state law, collective bargaining agreements, and Parents' Bills of Rights.

    Constraint on Wyoming school boards' authority by topic

    This section features constraints on Wyoming school boards' authority on policies related to the following topics:

    Curriculum requirements

    Wyoming requires the following specific topics to be included in each district's curriculum:[3][4]

    • reading and language arts,
    • social studies,
    • mathematics,
    • science,
    • fine and performing arts,
    • physical education,
    • health and safety,
    • humanities,
    • career and technical education,
    • world cultures and languages,
    • government and civics,
    • Wyoming state constitution,
    • US constitution,
    • computer science,
    • problem solving,
    • interpersonal communications,
    • computational thinking,
    • computer applications,
    • critical thinking,
    • creativity,
    • life skills, and
    • personal financial skills.

    Curriculum restrictions

    Wyoming state law prohibits instruction promoting what it defines as institutional discrimination. The text of state law is as follows:[5]

    “

    9-25-101. Definitions. (a) As used in this section:

    (i) "Diversity, equity or inclusion" means any program, activity or policy that promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals or classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin;

    (ii) "Governmental entity" means the state, any department thereof, the University of Wyoming and any county, city, town, school district, community college district, other political subdivision and other public corporation of the state;

    (iii) "Institutional discrimination" means any of the following concepts:

    (A) That any race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin is inherently superior or inferior;

    (B) That a person should be discriminated against or adversely treated because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin;

    (C) That the moral character of a person is determined by the person's race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin;

    (D) That because of a person's race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin the person is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously;

    (E) That by virtue of a person's race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin, the person is inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin;

    (F) That fault, blame or bias should be assigned to members of a race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin;

    (G) That any person should accept, acknowledge, affirm or assent to a sense of guilt, complicity or a need to apologize on the basis of the person's race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin;

    (H) That meritocracy or certain traits including a hard work ethic are racist or sexist.

    (b) No governmental entity shall:

    (i) Engage in any diversity, equity or inclusion program, activity or policy;

    (ii) Engage in institutional discrimination;

    (iii) Require instruction promoting institutional discrimination;

    (iv) Require any student, employee or contractor to attend or participate in any diversity, equity or inclusion program or training or any institutional discrimination program or training. [2]

    		”
    Federal law and guidance


    Book bans, removals, and restrictions

    Wyoming school boards have the authority to remove books from school libraries.[7]

    In her letter regarding library materials, Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder wrote the following:[7]

    “

    This document and resources released today are only the beginning, and we will continue to provide resources as additional districts create robust policies. Some things I personally believe should be fundamental to any library material policy:

    • Sexually explicit materials should not be available in K-12 schools.
    • A parent has an absolute right to restrict access to any material they find inappropriate for their child.
    • Maximum transparency of materials, books and curriculum is a critical;
    • A clear policy, created in a transparent manner with the community and applied uniformly is best.
    • Policy should be uniformly applied to all sexual orientations and not used as a tool to discriminate.
    • All education, including library books, is a collaborative process between parents and district/school staff. Parents should start communicating a concern at the point closest to the material of concern, for example, speaking with the teacher, school librarian, or principal. When necessary to escalate the conversation to the school board, attempt to begin voicing your concerns in a one-on-one meeting with a trustee and, if necessary, eventually to the entire board.[2]
    		 ”

    Case law:
    The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed local school boards' authority to remove school books in Island Trees Sch. Dist. v. Pico by Pico in 1982 but held that school library books are distinct from curricular books, which school boards have more authority to regulate. The ruling held that school boards are charged with inculcating community values and may make curricular decisions accordingly. In Zykan v. Warsaw Community School Corp. in 1980, the Supreme Court held that school boards had discretionary power over curriculum, textbooks, and other educational matters but could not impose religious creeds or "permanently the student’s ability to investigate matters that arise in the natural course of intellectual inquiry,” according to the opinion.[8][9][10]

    Federal guidance


    Parental notification

    Ballotpedia could not identify any parental notification requirements in Wyoming statutes, regulations, case law, or collective bargaining agreements.

    Case law: The United States Supreme Court ruled in Mahmoud v. Taylor on June 27, 2025, that Montgomery County Board of Education's introduction of LGBTQ+ related storybooks, along with its decision to withhold opt outs, placed an unconstitutional burden on the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religion.[12]

    Discipline

    See also: How does Wyoming compare to other states on school board authority over disciplinary policy?

    Wyoming is one of 47 states that gives school boards authority over district disciplinary policy.

    The text of Wyoming Statutes 21-4-308 is as follows:[13]

    “

    21-4-308. Punishment and disciplinary measures; denial of diploma or credit.

    (a) Each board of trustees in each school district within the state may adopt rules for reasonable forms of punishment and disciplinary measures. Subject to such rules, teachers, principals, and superintendents in such district may impose reasonable forms of punishment and disciplinary measures for insubordination, disobedience, and other misconduct.

    (b) Teachers, principals and superintendents in each district shall be immune from civil and criminal liability in the exercise of reasonable corporal discipline of a student as authorized by board policy.

    (c) No diploma or credit for a course which has been completed successfully shall be denied a pupil who has earned it; provided, such diploma or credit shall not be deemed earned until payment has been made for all indebtedness due to the school district. [2]

    		”
    Federal guidance

    School board elections

    See also: Rules governing school board election dates and timing in Wyoming, How does Wyoming compare to other states on school board authority over election timing?

    Wyoming is one of 42 states in which school boards do not have authority over the timing of school board elections because state or municipal laws determine school board election dates.

    Click here to read about the laws governing school board elections in Wyoming.

    Public school choice and open enrollment

    See also: School choice in Wyoming

    Intradistrict school choice is voluntary under Wyoming state law. School districts may admit students from another district, but will not be required to if, for example, they determine that the admission would cause overcrowding or if the student was suspended or expelled in another district. Wyoming statutes did not address interdistrict school choice as of February 2025:[15]

    “

    21-4-502. Attendance in another district when convenient or desirable; admission of pupils resident in other districts; attendance for ADM computations specified.

    (a) The board of trustees of every school district within the state may provide for the enrollment of any pupil resident therein in a school within another district if the pupil desires to attend the school and if attendance in such other district would be more convenient or is desirable because of services available in the other district. Except as provided under subsection (c) of this section, the district providing for the enrollment of the pupil in a school within another district shall not include the pupil within its average daily membership (ADM) for purposes of the foundation program under W.S. 21-13-309.

    (b) Any district within the state may admit pupils resident in other districts of the state unless the admission overcrowds the classrooms of the admitting district. No district within the state shall be required to admit a pupil who has been suspended or expelled by the board of trustees or designated disciplinarian of any other district located in or outside the state. Except as provided under subsection (c) of this section, the district admitting a pupil under this subsection shall not assess tuition payments upon the district wherein the pupil resides, but shall include the pupil within its average daily membership (ADM) for purposes of determining its foundation program amount under W.S. 21-13-309.

    (c) Any district within the state may allow pupils enrolled in another school district in the state to receive a portion of a pupil's education pursuant to an agreement with the district in which the pupil is enrolled. The agreement shall be in writing with a copy kept on file by both districts. The district providing for the enrollment of the pupil shall include the pupil within its average daily membership (ADM) for purposes of the foundation program under W.S. 21-13-309. The district providing a portion of the pupil s education may assess the district providing for the enrollment of the pupil tuition for the classes the pupil attends. The tuition shall be equal to or less than the per ADM amount for the district providing a portion of the pupil s education prorated to reflect the number of classes attended by the pupil. [2]

    		”

    Charter schools

    See also: Charter schools in Wyoming, How does Wyoming compare to other states on school board authority over charter schools?

    Wyoming is one of 36 states that grant school boards at least some authority over whether charter schools are issued in their district.

    Wyoming school boards have the authority to approve charter schools, but are not the only entities that can do so. For example, the charter can be granted by the state loan and investment board.[16]

    “

    21-3-304. Charter school; requirements; authority.

    (a) A charter school shall be a public, nonsectarian, nonreligious, nonhome-based school which operates within a public school district. Tuition shall not be charged by a charter school to any student in grades kindergarten through twelve (12).

    (b) If a charter is granted by a school district, the charter school shall be a public school within the school district that grants its charter. If a charter is granted by the state loan and investment board, the charter school shall be an independent public school within the district where the charter school is located. The charter school shall be accountable to its authorizer for purposes of ensuring compliance with applicable laws and charter provisions and the requirements of the state constitution.

    (c) A charter school shall be subject to all federal and state laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry or need for special education services. Enrollment decisions shall be made in a nondiscriminatory manner specified by the charter school applicant in the charter school application. Enrollment decisions shall not discriminate against at-risk students or special program students. A charter school specializing in at-risk or special education students may give a preference in enrollment to those students. A charter school sponsored jointly or separately by the Eastern Shoshone or the Northern Arapaho Indian Tribes may give preference to a student who is a member or eligible for membership in an Indian tribe.

    (d) A charter school shall be administered and governed by a governing body in a manner agreed to by the charter school applicant and the authorizer. A charter school may organize as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to the Wyoming Nonprofit Corporation Act, which shall not affect its status as a public school for any purposes under Wyoming law. A charter school organized by a school district may include school board members or school district employees on its governing board.

    (e) A charter school, as a public school, is a governmental entity. Direct leases and financial obligations of a charter school shall not constitute debt or financial obligations of the authorizer unless the authorizer expressly assumes the obligations in writing.

    (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this article to the contrary, a charter school and the authorizer may agree to extend the length of the charter beyond five (5) years.

    (g) A charter school may operate free from specified school district policies and state regulations. Pursuant to contract, a school district may waive locally imposed school district requirements, without seeking approval of the state board. The state board may waive state statutory requirements or rules promulgated by the state board, except that the state board shall not waive any statute or rule relating to the assessments or standards required to be administered. Upon request of the charter applicant, the state board shall provide summaries of such regulations and policies to use in preparing a charter school application. The department of education shall prepare the summary of state regulations within existing appropriations. Any waiver of state or local school district regulations made pursuant to this subsection shall be for the term of the charter for which the waiver is made, except that a waiver of state statutes or regulations by the state board shall be subject to review every two (2) years and may be revoked if the waiver is deemed no longer necessary by the state board. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to exempt the charter school from:

    (i) Any civil rights, health or safety requirements applicable to other public schools in the state except as specifically provided in this article;

    (ii) The student assessment and accountability requirements applicable to other public schools, provided that this paragraph shall not prohibit a charter school from establishing additional student assessment measures;

    (iii) The public records act and public meeting requirements applicable to public schools and school districts and any federal or state privacy laws applicable to public schools or school districts.

    (h) A charter school shall be responsible for its own operation including, but not limited to, preparation of a budget, contracting for services and personnel matters.

    (j) A charter school may negotiate and contract with a school district, the governing body of a community college or the university of Wyoming, or any third party for the use of a school building and grounds, the operation and maintenance thereof, and the provision of any service, activity or undertaking that the charter school is required to perform in order to carry out the educational program described in its charter. Any services for which a charter school contracts with a school district shall be provided by the district at the incremental cost. For school district capital facilities that are rented at the time of the charter school application and had been rented for the immediately preceding six (6) months by a third party, the net loss of rental income shall be considered an incremental cost. The charter school shall have standing to sue and be sued in its own name for the enforcement of any contract created pursuant to this subsection.

    (k) Except as provided in subsection (j) of this section, a charter school shall not be required to pay rent for space which is deemed available, as negotiated by contract, in school district facilities. All other costs for the improvement, modification, operation and maintenance of school district facilities used by the charter school shall be subject to negotiation between the charter school and the district board.

    (m) A charter school shall be authorized to offer any educational program that may be offered by a school district unless expressly prohibited by its charter or by state law.

    (n) Repealed by Laws 2021, ch. 169, § 4.

    (o) Repealed by Laws 2021, ch. 169, § 4.

    (p) Admission to a charter school shall not be determined solely on academic abilities or achievements, including minimum test scores or intelligence quotient scores.[2]

    		”

    Cellphone bans

    See also: How does Wyoming compare to other states on cellphone laws?

    Wyoming is one of 16 states that do not have statewide laws or policies regarding cellphone use in K-12 classrooms.

    Collective bargaining agreements

    Teacher union collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) can constrain school board authority. Teacher CBAs are agreements between a school district and a teachers’ union to establish rights and other contract details for public school employees. CBAs do not have the force of law, but are contractually binding for a set period of time. Within the time set out in the agreement, the school board must comply with the stipulations that were agreed to in the contract. In this way, CBAs can constrain school board authority by giving teachers authority over curriculum, prohibiting school boards from banning books, and establishing certain student or parental rights. They can also determine rights and protections for educators, and conditions for students (such as required recess periods or the amount of standardized testing), among other provisions.

    CBAs vary greatly within and across states in size, topics covered, and constraints they put on school boards. Not all states allow teachers to bargain collectively. As of January 2022, 35 states and the District of Columbia guaranteed K-12 teachers some right to bargain collectively, and six states prohibited public-sector employee collective bargaining by law, which includes public school teachers. The other nine states have no statewide bargaining framework, but local jurisdictions within these states can grant bargaining rights if they choose.[17][18]

    Wyoming school boards are authorized to engage in collective bargaining agreements with school employees, which can constrain their authority over certain district policies.

    For example, state statute mandates that the district evaluate teachers and establishes certain requirements. In addition to these requirements, the negotiated agreement between the Laramie County School District and the Cheyenne Teachers Education Association requires the district to evaluate based on certain criteria and requires the district to make its evaluation policies available to certificated staff.[19]

    “

    ARTICLE 15 - EVALUATION AND REMEDIATION

    15.1 To facilitate professional growth, quality instruction, and professional conduct, evaluation should be a formative and summative process that takes into consideration individual teaching styles. Adequate administrative time and training, staff development, and professional growth through individual responsibility are essential to this process. Effective evaluations should be based on observation and defined criteria which are applied consistently. Peer mentors, Instructional Facilitators, and other members of the Unit may work with the educator, but their assistance will not be part of the formal evaluation.

    15.2 In order to optimize professional growth through evaluation, every effort must be made to schedule observation(s) to support the evaluation(s) throughout the school year. Evaluation policies and procedures must be available to certificated staff. [2]

    		”

    Parents' bill of rights

    See also: How does Wyoming compare to other states on Parents' Bills of Rights?

    Wyoming is one of 26 states that has a Parents' Bill of Rights.

    The statute holds that parents have the fundamental right to the care, custody, and control of their child, among other provisions. The text is as follows:[20]

    “

    Section 14-2-206 - Protection of parental rights; applicability

    (a) The liberty of a parent to the care, custody and control of their child is a fundamental right that resides first in the parent.

    (b) The state, or any agency or political subdivision of the state, shall not infringe the parental right as provided under this section without demonstrating that the interest of the government as applied to the parent or child is a compelling state interest addressed by the least restrictive means.

    (c) The parental right as provided under this section shall also apply to any state or local education agency, school district, board of trustees, commission or school under title 21 of the Wyoming statutes regarding communication or disclosure to a parent about that parent's unemancipated child. [2]

    		”


    How does Wyoming compare to other states?

    This section compares Wyoming's school board authority and constraints with those of other states on select topics. These topics include authority over discipline policy, school board election timing, charter schools, cellphone use policy, as well as constraints on school boards' authority from Parents' Bills of Rights.

    Book bans, removals, and restrictions

    Twenty-four (24) states have no laws regulating the curation of school library books. Twenty-six (26) states, however, have passed laws restricting school board authority over school library book curation. These laws typically fall into one of the following categories:

    • Ten states require school boards to develop a policy for the removal of books, including creating a way for the public to challenge school library books.
    • Eight states prohibit school boards from removing books on the grounds that they represent specific ideologies or perspectives.
    • Six states prohibit books if they contain specific material, including sexual content or anything deemed harmful to minors.
    • Five states require school boards to establish local boards to review challenges to library books.
    • Two states require school boards to allow parents to view a catalogue of books.

    Some states have adopted multiple types of these policies.

    Discipline

    • School boards in 47 states have authority over disciplinary policy in their district.
    • School boards in two states have authority over disciplinary policy for specific circumstances, such as suspension, expulsion, or bullying.
    • Individual schools in one state create their own disciplinary policy.

    School board elections

    School boards' authority over the timing of school board elections varies by state.

    • School boards in 42 states do not have authority over election timing;
    • School boards in five states can choose from limited options when to hold school board elections;
    • School boards in two states can choose from a date range when to hold school board elections;
    • The school board in Hawaii is not elected.

    The map below shows the types of authority school boards in the states have to determine the timing of school board elections.

    Charter schools

    See also: Charter schools in the United States

    Some school boards in the U.S. are authorized to approve or deny applications for charter schools in their district, while state boards of education hold the authority in other states. In some states, school boards can authorize charter schools, but there are other entities besides school boards that can also authorize charter schools or to which a school board decision can be appealed.

    • 10 states do not authorize school boards to make decisions on whether to approve new charter schools in their districts.
    • 36 states do authorize school boards to approve new charter schools in their districts, deny approval to new charter schools, or both.
    • 3 states do not have laws governing charter school authorization.
    • 1 state allows school districts to apply to the state board of education to be a charter school district.

    State cellphone laws

    See also: State policies on cellphone use in K-12 public schools

    In most states, school boards or superintendents often set policies on cellphones in public schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), around 76% of schools said they banned the non-academic use of cellphones or smartphones during school hours during the 2021-22 school year, down from 91% in 2010.[21]

    Beginning with Florida in 2023, some states enacted laws or policies to regulate student cellphone usage in public schools. Twenty-six (26) states had statewide laws or policies restricting cellphone use in K-12 classrooms or schools as of June 2025. Four states had requirements for all school district boards to adopt a policy on cellphones but without specific requirements for those policies. Four other states had policies encouraging school districts to establish restrictions on cellphone use in the classroom.


    Parents' Bill of Rights

    See also: Parents' Bill of Rights in education

    If state law explicitly provides certain rights to parents, it can constrain the policy-making authority of school boards. These sections of statute are often referred to within statute and are categorized here as Parents' Bills of Rights. In some states, they are education-specific, regarding the rights a parent has to be involved in their child's public education. Common examples include notification requirements, opt-out rights, and records access. Other Parents' Bills of Rights are more general, commonly affording parents a right to direct the upbringing of their child.

    • 26 states have enacted a statewide Parents' Bill of Rights
    • 24 states have not enacted a Parents' Bill of Rights.

    Noteworthy events

    See also: Overview of trends in K-12 curricula development
    • Wyoming adopts ban on diversity, equity, or inclusion programs, instruction (2025: Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon (R) signed House Bill (HB) 147 on March 4, 2025, to prohibit what the bill defined as institutional discrimination. It prohibited any governmental entity, including school districts, from providing instruction promoting concepts involving it's definition of institutional discrimination. The bill was effective July 1, 2025.[22]
    • Wyoming Ed Department issues AI guidance (2024): The Wyoming Department of Education issued guidance to encourage local school districts to adopt AI use policies on July 15, 2024. The guidance, issued by Superintendent of Education Megan Degenfelder (R), encouraged school districts to adopt policies surrounding AI that help schools realize community goals while mitigating what the guidance called the risks of AI use. The guidance contended that the "key areas of technology policy to ensure compliance with are privacy, data security, student safety, data transfer and ownership, and child and youth protection." The purpose of AI use in schools is "to serve existing goals, such as promoting student and staff well-being, enriching student learning experiences, and enhancing administrative functions," according to the text of the guidance.[23]

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Wyoming Legislature, "TITLE 21 - EDUCATION," February 27, 2025
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    3. ↑ Case Text, "Wyo. Stat. § 21-9-101," February 27, 2025
    4. ↑ Case Text, "Wyo. Stat. § 21-9-102," February 27, 2025
    5. ↑ Legiscan, "Wyoming House Bill 147," accessed July 9, 2025
    6. ↑ The White House, "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling," accessed March 14, 2025
    7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 edu.wyoming.gov "Letter From Superintendent," February 27, 2025
    8. ↑ Education Law Center, Pennsylvania, "Challenging book bans: What can you do," September 18, 2024
    9. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "Island Trees Sch. Dist. v. Pico by Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982)," September 18, 2024
    10. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "Zykan v. Warsaw Community School Corp., 631 F.2d 1300 (7th Cir. 1980)," October 11, 2024
    11. ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax," accessed January 28, 2025
    12. ↑ The United States Supreme Court, "Mahmoud et al. v. Taylor et al." Accessed July 7, 2025
    13. ↑ Justia Law, "WY Stat § 21-4-308 (2022)," February 27, 2025
    14. ↑ The White House, "Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies," April 30, 2025
    15. ↑ Justia Law, "WY Stat § 21-4-502 (2022)," February 27, 2025
    16. ↑ Jusita Law, "WY Stat § 21-3-304 (2022)," February 27, 2025
    17. ↑ National Education Association, "Collective Bargaining: What it is and How it Works", accessed October 3, 2024.
    18. ↑ National Education Association, "The Benefits of Collective Bargaining in Education", accessed October 3, 2024
    19. ↑ National Council on Teacher Quality, "Negotiated agreement between the Board of Trustees of Laramie County School District Number One and the Cheyenne Teachers Education Association," February 27, 2025
    20. ↑ Case Text, "Wyo. Stat. § 14-2-206," February 27, 2025
    21. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Percentage of public schools with various safety and security measures: Selected school years, 1999-2000 through 2021-22," accessed August 8, 2024
    22. ↑ Legiscan, "Wyoming House Bill 147," accessed July 9, 2025
    23. ↑ Wyoming Education Department, "Guidance for Wyoming School Districts on Developing Artificial Intelligence Use Policy," July 25, 2024
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