During the Wyoming Legislature’s “interim” session this summer and fall, small groups of lawmakers will meet as committees to discuss specific issues.
Ideally, the committees will prepare fine-tuned legislation that addresses the issues, and then propose it when the full Legislature next convenes in February 2026.
In a series of blog posts, Better Wyoming will break down some of the most important issues of the current “interim” session so folks can better know what’s going on and how to get involved.
ISSUE: Youth mental health issues are on the rise, but K-12 school funding doesn’t include money for elementary school counselors.
COMMITTEE: Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration
NEXT MEETING: Sept. 4 - 5, Casper
Overview
Wyoming has few mental health services, but high instances of youth mental health issues. Our suicide rate for 15- to-19 year olds is more than double the national average.
More than 90 percent of Wyoming children go to public schools. In turn, public education is deeply intertwined with youth mental health.
One former Wyoming educator sums up what has become a recurring issue: “I witnessed the plethora of students that needed mental health services that our district was too short-staffed to be able to help. I actively watched students leave our state because their parents needed more mental health support for their children.”
Public schools can function as a safety net for students with mental health problems whose families lack the resources or wherewithal to address them. At the same time, growing instances of severe behavioral or mental health problems in school is disruptive to learning.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness says untreated or inadequately treated mental illness can lead to high rates of school dropout, unemployment, substance use, arrest, incarceration and early death.
Legislative background
Wyoming’s current K-12 education funding model does not allocate money to fully staff schools with mental health professionals. A judge has ruled that this needs to change.
Adding any money to fund public schools will be an uphill battle, despite the court ruling, since the Freedom Caucus—which controls the Legislature—is actively working to defund public education instead.
The Freedom Caucus has led the effort to kill several proposals in recent years that would have provided schools funding for elementary school counselors.
Over the next several months, the Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration will consider a recommendation to spend an additional $21.2 million to fund elementary school counselors.
The committee will suggest changes to the state’s entire school funding model during the legislature’s upcoming 2026 budget session.
What’s next?
The Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration will meet Sept. 4 - 5 in Casper to continue hearing testimony from stakeholders and consultants. See the agenda here.
People who want to watch the meeting can do so on the Wyoming Legislature’s YouTube channel (Look under “Interim Committee Meetings” for Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration).