$1 billion for Education in Wyoming Possible

A new school funding model would put more teachers in Wyoming schools and better fund programs to help at-risk students — at a total cost of nearly $1 billion per year.

Consultants Larry Picus and Allan Odden, in conjunction with the Legislature’s Select Committee on School Finance, have developed a new school finance model that would add about $142 million annually to the state’s K-12 education budget. That comes on top of the $778.5 million in the current model and the $66.5 million the Legislature added to school programs last year, bringing the total to $987 million a year.

The total cost is calculated for the 2005-06 school year, which is already under way, though. The actual total when implemented and cost adjusted in the 2006-07 school year would be even higher.

By JENNI DILLON
Star-Tribune staff writer

Full Story: http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2005/11/01/news/f396b1f08d1a1c4b872570ac00084e97.txt