Wyoming Superintendent Candidates Oppose School Vouchers
Candidates Ana Cordova and Steve Harshman have expressed concerns regarding the state's school choice funding.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Primary Education
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Wyoming superintendent candidates Ana Cordova and Steve Harshman have voiced their opposition to state-funded school voucher programs. Both candidates raised concerns regarding the potential for waste and inefficiency within such systems.
Why it matters
The candidates' stances highlight a critical debate over the use of state tax dollars for education. The issue centers on whether private entities should receive public funding without direct state oversight.
Candidate Ana Cordova aims to retain 80% of existing education policy, while the state maintains 41 distinct first-grade English language arts standards.
The players
Ana Cordova
She is the Democratic candidate for Wyoming superintendent of public instruction based in Cheyenne.
Steve Harshman
He is a Republican state representative from Casper running for the superintendent position.
Megan Degenfelder
She is the outgoing superintendent of public instruction in Wyoming.
The details
Steve Harshman, a state representative, proposed hiring Department of Education staff to certify local education providers to ensure accountability. Meanwhile, Democrat Ana Cordova suggested implementing a strict application process to monitor the distribution of public funds to private individuals.
Timeline
The Wyoming Constitution Article 16 Section 6 was ratified in 1890.
The initial school choice bill was introduced in 2024.
Ana Cordova was interviewed by KHOL on September 15, 2026.
Steve Harshman was interviewed by KHOL on September 22, 2026.
Culture Shift
The debate over state-funded vouchers reflects a broader shift toward balancing parental school choice with constitutional prohibitions on funding private entities. The discourse surrounding the Wyoming Constitution Article 16 Section 6 is central to determining how the state allocates education funds.
The outcome of this election and the pending court ruling will directly influence how private and public schooling options are funded across Wyoming. Residents should prepare for potential changes to educational funding models and the oversight standards applied to private providers.
The takeaway
The race for superintendent centers on a fundamental disagreement regarding state control over public education dollars. Voters must weigh the candidates' different approaches to oversight against the ongoing legal questions about school choice.
Further reading
Learn more about local school board and curriculum policies on our Primary Education page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wyoming Public Media.
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