Wyoming · Steamboat Legacy ESA
Wyoming Steamboat Legacy ESA approved providers: how to find and verify them
Wyoming’s Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act ESA requires families to use providers from the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE)’s approved provider list. This guide explains how the system works, what decertification means, and how to verify a provider before spending ESA funds.
What “approved provider” means for Wyoming Steamboat Legacy ESA
An approved provider is an education service provider, school, or vendor that has applied to the WDE Steamboat Legacy ESA program and been accepted for the current program year. WDE maintains the approved list and may update it at any time — including removing providers who do not comply with program rules (decertification). A provider’s approved status today is not a guarantee of approval tomorrow.
The key consequence: families must use providers from the current WDE approved list to have ESA funds pay for services or products. A private tutor, curriculum vendor, or private school that has not applied or has been decertified cannot receive Wyoming ESA funds, regardless of how good they are.
What decertification means
WDE’s ESA page says WDE may decertify providers for non-compliance. If a provider a family is using is decertified mid-year:
- The family cannot continue paying that provider with ESA funds
- They may need to find and onboard an alternative approved provider
- Payments made before decertification — if properly documented — may not be affected, but families should check with WDE
Checking provider approval status before committing to a long-term service agreement helps avoid disruptions.
Wyoming Steamboat Legacy ESA allowable expenses
| Expense category | Notes |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees for private school | School must be on WDE's approved list |
| Textbooks, curriculum, and instructional materials | Must be reasonable; expenses must support educational success |
| Online learning program fees | Platform or service must be approved |
| Educational therapies | Provider must be approved; service must be educationally justified |
| Tutoring by approved providers | Tutor must be on WDE's approved list |
How to verify an approved provider — step by step
- Go to WDE’s Steamboat Legacy ESA page. Use the official WDE website to search or browse the current approved provider list. Do not rely on blog lists, social media, or other unofficial sources.
- Search by provider name, location, or service type. Confirm the provider you are considering appears on the current list.
- Look for any notes about status, service type, or restrictions. Some providers may be approved for only certain types of services.
- Verify before you sign or pay. Check approval status before signing a contract or committing to a service schedule.
- Follow the payment process exactly. Wyoming ESA funds must be spent following the program’s prescribed payment or reimbursement process. Confirm the correct path before purchasing.
Wyoming Steamboat Legacy ESA basics
- Program established: 2024; amended 2025 under the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act
- ESA amount: $7,000 annually beginning 2025–26
- Rollover: Fourth-quarter payment ($1,750) for 2025–26 may roll over into 2026–27 for previously approved students not enrolled in public school for 2025–26
- Eligibility: Wyoming resident students in pre-K through grade 12 not enrolled in public school for 2025–26
What to do if your provider is not approved
- Ask the provider if they have applied to the Wyoming Steamboat Legacy ESA program.
- Search the WDE approved list for alternative providers offering the same type of service.
- Contact WDE directly if you believe a provider should qualify but is not listed.