The application for the 2026-27 SY ESA program on the ESA webpage will remain open until August 6 at 11:59:59 p.m. At that time, the review process for all applications will begin. Applicants will receive an email with their application status by September 1. The delay in the availability of ESA funds this year is due to the timing of the recent court decision.
Once the application period closes, the vendor, Odyssey, must review and process all applications. After a family is approved for the ESA program, they have 15 days to complete the unenrollment process, which allows time to verify that students are no longer enrolled in a public school before funds can be made available.
If approved, funds will be available in student accounts by September 1. For students previously confirmed as enrolled, not attending public school, and eligible for the 2025-26 SY, this will include the additional $1,750 in Q4 rollover funds. Rollover funds are only applicable to eligible expenses for the 2026-27 SY. ESA Program funds can be utilized for eligible purchases through the Marketplace on the Odyssey platform. Purchases made prior to September 1 are not eligible for reimbursement.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we implement the program. We are hopeful that, in future years, the program timeline can better align with families' school start dates.
Families applying for the first time can access the ESA Family Handbook for helpful information. Families enrolled for the 2025-26 school year but not intending to proceed with the 2026-27 school year should contact wde-esa@wyo.gov to unenroll their student.
You will find the current Frequently Asked Questions here.
Megan Degenfelder
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
The ESA program was established by the Wyoming Education Savings Account Act in 2024, which was amended by the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act in 2025. The program provides eligible students with $7,000 annually for various educational expenses, including private school tuition, curriculum, tutoring, extracurricular activities, and other approved education-related costs.
For more information, email wde-esa@wyo.gov.
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