Wyo. Stat. § 21-13-320 (2026)

foundation program formula for transportation maintenance and
operations expenditures and school bus purchases; school year
2026-2027 reimbursement; repeal of subsection (o) of this
section effective July 1, 2027; district reporting requirements.

     (a) The amount provided for the transportation of school
children within the education resource block grant model
pursuant to W.S. 21-13-309(m)(v)(E)(I) shall be computed in
accordance with this section.

     (b) There shall be an amount computed for each school
district equal to the amount actually expended by the district
during the previous school year for:
          (i) The maintenance and operation of transportation
routes for transporting school children to and from school; and

          (ii) The transportation of students to and from
student activities authorized by department of education rules.
For the purpose of this paragraph, student activities means
athletic and nonathletic activities sanctioned by the Wyoming
high school activities association and school sponsored athletic
and nonathletic activities in grades preceding high school which
directly correspond to those high school activities sanctioned
by the Wyoming high school activities association. No
reimbursement shall be made for transportation expenses for
student activities for expenses for transportation in excess of
one hundred fifty (150) miles from the Wyoming border into
another state.

    (c)   Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

    (d)   Repealed By Laws 2004, Chapter 74, § 1.

    (e)   Repealed By Laws 2002, Ch. 76, § 3.

     (f) The department of education shall adopt necessary
rules to implement and enforce state standards established under
this section and to administer this section. District
expenditures computed under subsection (b) of this section shall
not include expenditures for contributions to the Wyoming
retirement system exceeding the amount specified in W.S. 21-13-
339 of any member employee's salary. In addition, the department
shall, in accordance with procedures prescribed by department
rule, establish a base price for each school bus type or other
student transportation vehicle type for the applicable fiscal
period that complies with minimum state standards for vehicle
specifications and equipment. The department shall also
establish a process including competitive bidding which
guarantees the acquisition of school buses and other student
transportation vehicles approved for reimbursement and complying
with state minimum standards and district fleet size
restrictions at the established base price for the applicable
fiscal year. Department rules shall establish appropriate
restrictions on how and under which conditions a school district
may procure a school bus or other student transportation vehicle
to ensure that the procurement method used is the most cost
effective. School districts shall notify the department of
school bus and other student transportation vehicle needs and
requirements for the appropriate fiscal year in the manner and
within the times prescribed by department rule, and shall report
expenditures and purchases for the applicable reporting period,
including vehicles replaced by purchases, as required by
department rule. The department shall annually review and
conduct audits as necessary of information submitted under this
section. As authorized under W.S. 21-13-307(b), the department
may correct the information reported by districts under this
section as necessary to fairly and accurately reflect the data
type, classification and format required to administer this
section in accordance with law and department rules.

     (g) In addition to amounts provided pursuant to subsection
(b) of this section, in a manner consistent with department
rules, the department shall reimburse each school district for
the amount expended for the purchase of school buses and other
vehicles used primarily for the transportation of students to
and from school and to and from school activities. Amounts
provided under this subsection shall be in addition to and shall
not be considered in determining the school foundation program
amount under the education resource block grant model pursuant
to W.S. 21-13-309. Amounts reimbursed under this subsection
shall be based upon the base price established by the department
under subsection (f) of this section for the student
transportation vehicle type and shall be subject to the
following:

          (i) Buses and other vehicles used primarily for
student transportation, for which reimbursement is authorized,
shall meet state minimum standards for vehicle specifications
and equipment and shall be subject to vehicle replacement
schedules specified by department rule and regulation;

          (ii) The number of buses and other student
transportation vehicles comprising a district's fleet shall
comply with fleet size standards established by rule of the
department, which shall be established to ensure safe and
efficient student transportation;

          (iii) In consultation with the pupil transportation
committee, the department shall by rule establish a replacement
schedule for buses and other student transportation vehicles.
The replacement schedule shall establish replacement cycles for
mileage and age not less than the applicable national averages
for replacement of school buses and other student transportation
vehicles;

              (A)   Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.
                 (B)   Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

                 (C)   Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

          (iv)   Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

          (v) Reimbursement for the purchase of buses and other
student transportation vehicles authorized under this subsection
shall be paid by the department not later than three (3) months
after the month in which the school district expends the funds
for the purchase and shall be in an amount equal to:

               (A) The base price established under subsection
(f) of this section for each school bus or other student
transportation vehicle purchased by the district;

                 (B)   Repealed by Laws 2026, ch. 82, § 3.

          (vi) School bus purchases that are fully or partially
paid for or rebated under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, 42
U.S.C. § 16131 et seq., or other similar program, shall be made
in accordance with department rule and regulation.

    (h)   As used in this section:

          (i)    Repealed by Laws 2026, ch. 82, § 3.

          (ii) "Pupil transportation committee" means an
advisory committee comprised of school district business
managers, student transportation program managers and employees,
district superintendents and other district personnel organized
by the state department of education to assist the department in
developing and maintaining state standards for vehicle
specifications and equipment, vehicle fleet regulations and
vehicle replacement schedules.

    (j)   Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

    (k)   Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

     (m) No district shall purchase a school bus unless it
first demonstrates to the department and the department
determines that the school district has in good faith attempted
to purchase a bus that will be fully or partially paid for or
rebated under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, 42 U.S.C. §
16131 et seq., or other similar program.
     (n) Except as needed to ensure shared services for the
purpose of efficiency, educational stability for a child taken
into protective custody or pursuant to an agreement under W.S.
21-4-502, no district shall send or arrange to send any bus or
other form of transportation into another school district for
the purposes of loading or discharging students residing in that
district.

     (o) For school year 2026-2027 only, the department of
education shall reimburse each school district for any remaining
balance for buses or other student transportation vehicles
purchased in accordance with this section prior to July 1, 2026.
This subsection is repealed July 1, 2027.