Wyoming: HSLDA Protects the Rule of Law and Homeschool Freedom

As the school year ends and families enjoy summer break, we have been extremely active in Wyoming to protect both the rule of law and homeschool freedom.

It may have seemed that no more work would be needed in Wyoming, with the massive victory for homeschool freedom due to the passage of H.B. 46 earlier this year. However, as is often the case, bureaucrats in local school districts are reluctant to let go of governmental power so easily.

We have been working closely with our friends at Homeschool Wyoming and in the Wyoming legislature to ensure that H.B. 46 is fully understood by local school districts by July 1, when it will take effect.

We had heard that some districts were trying to say nothing had changed, and that homeschooling families still need to file annual notification with their local school districts. This came to a head earlier this month when Carbon County School District No. 1 sent a letter to every homeschooling family in the district stating (in bold, no less!): “Homeschool families are still required to submit a letter of intent to homeschool to their local school district[.]”

Obviously, this is incorrect. We quickly sent a letter to the superintendent, and we are pleased to report that he responded swiftly and cordially, and acknowledged that we are correct. We are on high alert to ensure that no further mistaken correspondence is sent out from this district—or any other.

We additionally sent a copy of our letter to our allies in the Wyoming legislature, and in Wyoming state government. We and Homeschool Wyoming have been in close contact with state governmental officials to ensure that correct guidance is issued to local school districts.

As part of this advocacy, we were deeply grateful to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder releasing guidance on June 16, reminding school districts that “… there is no legal requirement for a student who has never enrolled in a public school district to report to the district. … I encourage school districts to be cognizant of the privacy of homeschool families and limit their communication…” You can read this guidance here.