Wyoming

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Strategy Name Strategy Type(s) Year Funding Amount Funding Source Features at a Glance
House Bill 126 
In 2024, the Wyoming State Legislature passed House Bill 126, aiming to increase access to child care across the state by targeting zoning and covenant restrictions that limit capacity, particularly for home-based providers. The bipartisan legislation allows home-based child care programs serving up to 10 children that are subject to restrictive covenants or homeowners association agreements to be classified as a residential use of property.  learn more: house bill 126 Sources: Alliance for Early Success. (n.d.). Wyoming Early Childhood Policy Landscape. State of Wyoming. (2024). House Bill No. HB0126.
  • Expansion
    • Physical Space and Facilities
 2024
House Bill 126 aims to increase access to child care across the state by targeting zoning and covenant restrictions that limit capacity, particularly for home-based providers
In 2024, the Wyoming State Legislature passed House Bill 126, aiming to increase access to child care across the state by targeting zoning and covenant restrictions that limit capacity, particularly for home-based providers. The bipartisan legislation allows home-based child care programs serving up to 10 children that are subject to restrictive covenants or homeowners association agreements to be classified as a residential use of property.  learn more: house bill 126 Sources: Alliance for Early Success. (n.d.). Wyoming Early Childhood Policy Landscape. State of Wyoming. (2024). House Bill No. HB0126.
Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council (ECSAC)
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:
  • Conducting a periodic statewide needs assessment, broadly considering the community context and data indicators that reflect the well-being, health and success of young children and their families;
  • Identifying opportunities for, and barriers to, practice and policy coordination and collaboration among federally funded child development, child care, and early childhood education programs and services, including collaboration and coordination among state agencies and partners responsible for administering such programs;
  • Developing recommendations for the governor, state agencies, statewide and local early childhood initiatives, and/or direct services providers who work with young children and families;
  • Working with state agencies to harness the expertise of early childhood providers and stakeholders in implementing state and federal grants, including the development of early childhood policies necessary for the Federal Child Care Development Block Grant Fund, and;
  • Reporting once per year to the governor on the needs of Wyoming’s youngest children and the impact of the state’s early childhood programs, including recommendations and collaborative actions that would increase that impact. Members of the council include state agency administrators, elected officials, governor’s office staff, educators, parents, advocates, and others.
Learn More: Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council 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.
  • Infrastructure to Support Early Childhood Systems
    • Administrative + Governance Models
 1997 $2 million
Federal grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families
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:
  • Conducting a periodic statewide needs assessment, broadly considering the community context and data indicators that reflect the well-being, health and success of young children and their families;
  • Identifying opportunities for, and barriers to, practice and policy coordination and collaboration among federally funded child development, child care, and early childhood education programs and services, including collaboration and coordination among state agencies and partners responsible for administering such programs;
  • Developing recommendations for the governor, state agencies, statewide and local early childhood initiatives, and/or direct services providers who work with young children and families;
  • Working with state agencies to harness the expertise of early childhood providers and stakeholders in implementing state and federal grants, including the development of early childhood policies necessary for the Federal Child Care Development Block Grant Fund, and;
  • Reporting once per year to the governor on the needs of Wyoming’s youngest children and the impact of the state’s early childhood programs, including recommendations and collaborative actions that would increase that impact. Members of the council include state agency administrators, elected officials, governor’s office staff, educators, parents, advocates, and others.
Learn More: Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council 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.
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Demographics Link copied!

Demographics Data Scorecard

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 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

2.9% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2024

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

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Child Population by Race and Ethnicity Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Race and Ethnicity

  • American Indian and Alaska Native (3%)
  • Asian (1%)
  • Black or African American (1%)
  • Hispanic or Latino (16%)
  • Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (.5%)
  • Two or more races (3%)
  • White, not Hispanic or Latino (76%)
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Year 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Governor R R R R R
State House R R R R R
State Senate R R R R R
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Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!

Early Childhood Education Programs

Program Name Program Length* Universal or Targeted Pre-K Policy State Spending Per Child
N/A Source: NIEER 2023 - N/A Source: NIEER 2023 -
*Program length refers to hours of instruction per day
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3-Year-Olds Enrolled in Early Childhood Education Programs NIEER 2023

Programs

  • Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Pre-K
    0% (2021), 0% (2022), 0% (2023)
  • Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Head Start (%8)
  • Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Special Education (%9)
  • Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Other/None (%80)
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4-Year-Olds Enrolled in Early Childhood Education Programs NIEER 2023

Programs

  • Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Pre-K
    0% (2021), 0% (2022), 0% (2023)
  • Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Head Start (%9)
  • Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Special Education (%13)
  • Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Other/None (%78)
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Workforce Link copied!

2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020

Role

  • Child Care Workers
    $11.65 (2017, adjusted)
    $11.46 (2019)
  • Preschool Teachers
    $14.99 (2017, adjusted)
    $13.27 (2019)
  • Preschool or Child Care Center Directors
    $24.84 (2017, adjusted)
    $21.50 (2019)
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Funding Sources Link copied!

Federal and State Early Childhood Education Funding (in Millions) Source First Five Years Fund, 2024

Funding Source

  • Head Start and Early Head Start Funding ($24.9)
  • CCDBG & Mandatory Funds ($16.3)
  • CCDBG State Match ($3.7)
  • MIECHV ($1.4)
  • IDEA Part C ($2.6)
  • IDEA Part B, Sec 619 ($1.2)
  • TANF Early Learning and Care ($3.1)
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