Districts across the state, including Powell, have a decision to make regarding home and private school students who choose to use funds from the Steamboat Legacy Act next school year.

Students enrolled in the scholarship cannot partake in public school offerings (aside from high school sports) unless districts opt to charge, under rules stipulated by the Wyoming Department of Education.  

Also, two districts cannot accept funds for the same student unless they “are fractionalized” meaning PCSD1 would receive a fraction of the funds for that student based on the amount of education they provide, Superintendent Jay Curtis explained to the board at a May 27 meeting.

The district currently accommodates homeschool families who choose to have their children participate in classes such as music and PE, or at the high school level, classes like chemistry that can be difficult to provide at home, Curtis said. 

“We would actually have to come up with a tuition rate if we were to do that and for middle school sports,” he said. 

High school sports, however, are covered under statute and thus homeschool kids using the ESA would not be affected. 

Curtis is not against homeschooling and once homeschooled, he told the board, he agrees with parents’ rights to use the funds, but the district will have to decide whether or not to offer education to these students for a fee.

A new homeschool policy is on the way to the board, he said, and their opinion will guide whether or not language addressing vending classes will be included. 

“My gut is telling me that it is going to be an absolute bleep show with regards to this scholarship, and I don't really want to get involved in trying to charge tuition,” Curtis said, mentioning that he is hearing varying reports about how the scholarships will be paid out to families. There are also no backstops that would prevent families from enrolling their children in the scholarship, receiving funds and then enrolling in PCSD1.

Trustee Dusty Paul said he knows of students who enroll in homeschool for a year or two and then return to the district for a span of time, “how do you juggle that yo-yo?” he asked.

“I’m not trying to punish anyone, but I think it’s going to be a nightmare at this point, so I guess I’m pitching to the board that I don’t really want to get involved with becoming a vendor,” Curtis said.

If students are not enrolled in the scholarship the district can still serve them and receive funds for those students. 

Trace Paul, school board’s vice chair, questioned the impact on district enrollment.

“Is this going to bring more homeschool kids in that environment versus the public school environment? Maybe, I don't know,” Paul said. “I guess my feeling is, I think it's too early to try to decide how we want to do this until we see what's the impact of it to the district.”

He would also like to see the data on the number of homeschool students who are attending classes.

From Board Chair Kim Dillivan’s perspective, if they charge a fee it would not be based on greed but to maintain the health of the business for the rest of the students, parents and community.

If a significant number of students end up enrolling in the scholarship, then Paul said he would say yes to becoming a vendor.

There is no deadline on becoming a vendor and the district could decide next year if a need presents itself, Curtis said.

“If it is half the district and we say no, then we could be, you know, losing major opportunity, not just financially, civically, too,” Trustee Ben Borcher said, adding, “You still want to be a supporter … I guess that's where I'm at with it, too.”