Wyoming
Policy Strategies & Innovations Link copied!
Innovation Name | Innovation Type | Innovation Subtype | Features at a Glance | Strategy Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council (ECSAC) | Infrastructure Systems | Administrative + Governance Models | 20-member advisory council supports collaboration and coordination across state early education agencies and programs |
Originally created in 1997, Wyoming’s 20-member Early Childhood State Advisory Council (ECSAC) supports collaboration and coordination across the state’s early education agencies and programs. A 2019 executive order outlines the Council’s duties:
Sources: Wyoming Department of Family Services. (1997). Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council (ECSAC). State of Wyoming Executive Department. (2019). Order 2019-4: Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council. Wyoming Department of Family Services. (2019). Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council Roster. |
Demographics Link copied!
State population
581,381 Source U.S. Census, 2022
Rural %
38.0% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Urban %
62.0% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Number of children age 0-4
32,291 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Poverty levels – children 0-8 below 200% poverty
36% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Median family income among households with children
$81,700.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Unemployment rate
3.7% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2022
Unemployment rate of parents
4% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force
N/A, for most states between 65%-75% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
24% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Political Landscape Link copied!
Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
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Governor | R | R | R | R | R |
House | R | R | R | R | R |
Senate | R | R | R | R | R |
Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!
Public pre-K program name
N/A Source: NIEER 2023
Universal or targeted pre-K policy
N/A Source: NIEER 2023
Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 3-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (0%)
- 3-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (10%)
- Other/none (90%)
Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 4-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (0%)
- 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (9%)
- Other/none (91%)
Workforce Link copied!
2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020
Role
- Child care workers
- Preschool teachers
- Preschool or child care center directors
Funding Sources Link copied!
Funding acronyms: CCDBG: Child Care and Development Block Grant; CARES Act: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; CRRSE Act: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations; ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act; CCDF: Child Care and Development Fund; MIECHV: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
The COVID Funding Cliff
All federal COVID relief allocations, including funding authorized by the CARES, CRRSE, and ARPA bills, must be fully spent by September 2024. An analysis from the Century Foundation shows this loss of funds could cause more than 3 million children to lose access to child care nationwide – including more than 6,000 children in Wyoming.