School finance-competitive grants for crossing guards.
Summary
SF0123 creates a temporary competitive grant program for Wyoming school districts to help fund crossing guards for K-12 public schools. For school years 2025-2026 through 2027-2028, districts may apply to the Department of Education for grants to train and educate volunteers and school district employees, pay wages for faculty serving as crossing guards, and purchase related equipment. Grants are limited to one year per award and capped at $10,000 per school per year, with applications due by June 30 for the following school year.
The bill requires districts to submit a proposal showing the need for crossing guards, the locations to be covered, staffing and hour estimates, training requirements, and itemized equipment costs. The Department of Education must review applications, issue written approval or denial by August 1, and may approve applications in whole or in part, including for specific schools within a district. Districts receiving funds must report expenditures, and the department must report grant spending to the Joint Education Interim Committee. The department, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, must also adopt rules establishing training and education requirements. The program is repealed July 1, 2028, and the bill includes a $4.95 million appropriation from the public school foundation program account, with no more than $1.65 million available each school year.
Impact
The bill adds a new section to Wyoming school finance law authorizing a short-term, state-funded competitive grant program for crossing guard services at public schools. It directs use of public school foundation program account funds for a purpose outside the standard foundation formula, requires administrative rulemaking by the Department of Education, and imposes reporting obligations on both grant recipients and the department. The appropriation is separate from the department’s standard budget and is scheduled to revert if unspent by June 30, 2028.
Sentiment
Committee action was strongly favorable in the Education Committee, which recommended the bill do pass unanimously, and the Appropriations Committee also advanced it unanimously with amendments. However, the bill later failed on the Committee of the Whole floor vote, 10-20, indicating that support in committee did not carry to the full chamber. The available record suggests the concept was viewed positively by committees but did not secure enough broader legislative support.
Contention
The main points of contention appear to have been whether the state should create a new, targeted grant program and dedicate $4.95 million from the public school foundation program account for crossing guard costs rather than funding them through local district budgets or the regular school finance formula. The bill also gives the Department of Education discretion to approve or deny applications in whole or in part, which may have raised concerns about administrative complexity or uneven distribution of funds. The floor defeat suggests broader disagreement over spending priorities, the temporary nature of the program, or the use of state education funds for this purpose.
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