Attendance of students in K-12 schools. | 26LSO-0198, 1.0 |
FISCAL NOTE
No significant fiscal or personnel impact.
Prepared by: Matthew Willmarth, LSO Phone: 777-7881
(Information provided by Trent Carroll, Department of Education, 777-7720)
SF0018
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)
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Speaker of the House |
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| President of the Senate |
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| Governor |
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| TIME APPROVED: _________ |
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| DATE APPROVED: _________ |
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I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.
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Chief Clerk |
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SF0018 | Attendance of students in K-12 schools. |
Sponsored By: Joint Education Interim Committee
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.
12/8/2025 Bill Number Assigned
1/5/2026 S Received for Introduction
2/9/2026 S Introduced and Referred to S04 - Education 31-0-0-0-0
ROLL CALL
Ayes: (s) Anderson, Barlow, Biteman, Boner, Brennan, Case, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, French, Gierau, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Jones, Kolb, Landen, Laursen, Love, Mckeown, Nethercott, Olsen, Pappas, Pearson, Rothfuss, Salazar, Schuler, Scott, Steinmetz
Ayes 31 Nays 0 Excused 0 Absent 0 Conflicts 0
2/11/2026 S04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
ROLL CALL
Ayes: Senator(s) Brennan, Olsen, Rothfuss, Schuler, Scott
Ayes 5 Nays 0 Excused 0 Absent 0 Conflicts 0
2/11/2026 S Placed on General File
2/11/2026 S COW:Passed
2/12/2026 S 2nd Reading:Passed
2/13/2026 S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0
ROLL CALL
Ayes: Senator(s) Anderson, Barlow, Biteman, Boner, Brennan, Case, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, French, Gierau, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Jones, Kolb, Landen, Laursen, Love, Mckeown, Nethercott, Olsen, Pappas, Pearson, Rothfuss, Salazar, Schuler, Scott, Steinmetz
Ayes 31 Nays 0 Excused 0 Absent 0 Conflicts 0
2/13/2026 H Received for Introduction
2/16/2026 H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education
2/21/2026 H04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 6-0-3-0-0
ROLL CALL
Ayes: Representative(s) Andrew, Erickson, Guggenmos, Singh, Strock, Williams
Excused: Representative(s) Bratten, Kelly, Lawley
Ayes 6 Nays 0 Excused 3 Absent 0 Conflicts 0
2/21/2026 H Placed on General File
SF0018HW001/WITHDRAWN
2/23/2026 H COW:Passed
SF0018H2001/FAILED
Page 1-line 4 After \"school\" insert \"virtually or\"; after \"basis;\" insert \"modifying average daily membership utilized in the education resource block grant model for students that successfully complete competency-based equivalency examinations; requiring rulemaking;\".
Page 1-line 5 Delete \"an\"; delete \"date\" and insert \"dates\".
Page 2-line 1 After \"basis\" insert \"or through virtual, online or long-distance education programs\".
Page 3-after line 5 Insert the following and renumber as necessary:
\"Section 2.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject to the rules required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, each student that successfully completes a competency-based equivalency examination, as authorized by W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iii), or that is enrolled in virtual, online or long-distance education, shall be included within the average daily membership (ADM) of the school district, solely for the course completed online, virtually or by examination, through the remainder of the semester in which the student was enrolled online or virtually or in which the equivalent examination was completed.
(b) The state superintendent shall promulgate rules, in accordance with W.S. 21-2-202(e), necessary for the operation of the education resource block grant model, as defined by W.S. 21-13-101(a)(xiv), in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.\".
Page 3-line 7 Delete \"Section 2\" and insert \"Section 3.\".
Page 3-after line 9 Insert the following and renumber as necessary:
\"Section 4. All agency rules authorized or required under this act shall be promulgated or repromulgated to comply with this act not later than July 1, 2026.\".
Page 3-line 11 Delete entirely and insert:
\"Section 5.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2026.
(b) Section 2 and section 4 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.\". Jarvis, Strock
SF0018H2002/FAILED
Page 1-line 4 After \"basis;\" insert \"decreasing the percentage of days in school required for full time status; amending definitions;\"
Page 1-line 9 Delete \"is\" and insert \"and 21-13-101(a)(i) are\".
Page 3-after line 6 Insert:
\"21-13-101. Definitions.
(a) As used in this chapter:
(i) \"Average daily membership\" or \"ADM\" means the aggregate number of pupils present plus the aggregate number of pupils absent, divided by the actual number of days the school is in session for the year. Pupils who attend at least eighty percent (80%) seventy-five percent (75%) of a full time equivalency basis shall be considered full time. For pupils enrolled in school on less than eighty percent (80%) seventy-five percent (75%) of a full time equivalency basis, the school district shall calculate the pupil's contribution to the ADM on a prorated basis with the hours or class periods of enrollment being the numerator and the hours or class periods of full time equivalency being the denominator. Pupils who have withdrawn from school or who have been absent for more than ten (10) consecutive calendar days shall not be counted as members;\". Harshman
2/24/2026 H 2nd Reading:Passed
SF0018H3001/FAILED
Page 1-line 4 After \"school\" insert \"virtually or\"; after \"basis;\" insert \"modifying average daily membership utilized in the education resource block grant model for students that successfully complete competency-based equivalency examinations; requiring rulemaking;\".
Page 1-line 5 Delete \"an\"; delete \"date\" and insert \"dates\".
Page 2-line 1 After \"basis\" insert \"or through virtual, online or long-distance education programs\".
Page 3-after line 5 Insert the following and renumber as necessary:
\"Section 2.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject to the rules required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, each student that successfully completes a competency-based equivalency examination, as authorized by W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iii), or that is enrolled in virtual, online or long-distance education, shall be included within the average daily membership (ADM) of the school district, solely for the course completed online, virtually or by examination, through the remainder of the semester in which the student was enrolled online or virtually or in which the equivalent examination was completed.
(b) The state superintendent shall promulgate rules, in accordance with W.S. 21-2-202(e), necessary for the operation of the education resource block grant model, as defined by W.S. 21-13-101(a)(xiv), in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.\".
Page 3-line 7 Delete \"Section 2\" and insert \"Section 3.\".
Page 3-after line 9 Insert the following and renumber as necessary:
\"Section 4. All agency rules authorized or required under this act shall be promulgated or repromulgated to comply with this act not later than July 1, 2026.\".
Page 3-line 11 Delete entirely and insert:
\"Section 5.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2026.
(b) Section 2 and section 4 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.\". Jarvis, Strock
SF0018H3002/FAILED
Page 1-line 4 After \"basis;\" insert \"decreasing the percentage of days in school required for full time status; amending definitions;\"
Page 1-line 9 Delete \"is\" and insert \"and 21-13-101(a)(i) are\".
Page 3-after line 5 Insert:
\"21-13-101. Definitions.
(a) As used in this chapter:
(i) \"Average daily membership\" or \"ADM\" means the aggregate number of pupils present plus the aggregate number of pupils absent, divided by the actual number of days the school is in session for the year. Pupils who attend at least eighty percent (80%) seventy-five percent (75%) of a full time equivalency basis shall be considered full time. For pupils enrolled in school on less than eighty percent (80%) seventy-five percent (75%) of a full time equivalency basis, the school district shall calculate the pupil's contribution to the ADM on a prorated basis with the hours or class periods of enrollment being the numerator and the hours or class periods of full time equivalency being the denominator. Pupils who have withdrawn from school or who have been absent for more than ten (10) consecutive calendar days shall not be counted as members;\". Harshman
2/25/2026 H 3rd Reading:Passed 59-0-3-0-0
ROLL CALL
Ayes: Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Brown, L, Byron, Campbell, E, Campbell, K, Chestek, Clouston, Connolly, Davis, Erickson, Filer, Fornstrom, Geringer, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Harshman, Heiner, Hoeft, Jarvis, Johnson, Knapp, Larsen, L, Larson, Jt, Lawley, Lien, Locke, Lucas, Mccann, Neiman, Nicholas, Ottman, Pendergraft, Posey, Provenza, Riggins, Rodriguez-Williams, Schmid, Sherwood, Singh, Smith, Storer, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Washut, Wasserburger, Webb, Wharff, Williams, Winter, Wylie, Yin
Excused: Representative(s) Kelly, Thayer, Webber
Ayes 59 Nays 0 Excused 3 Absent 0 Conflicts 0
2/25/2026 Assigned Number SEA No. 0002
2/25/2026 S President Signed SEA No. 0002
2/26/2026 H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0002
2/27/2026 Governor Signed SEA No. 0002
2/27/2026 Assigned Chapter Number 5
Chapter No. 5 Session Laws of Wyoming 2026
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:
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. |