Committee approves $240,000 biennial funding for state literacy position
November 14, 2025 | Education, Joint & Standing, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming
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The Joint Education Committee on Thursday approved a $240,000 biennial appropriation to fund a full‑time literacy position in the Wyoming Department of Education aimed at implementing the state’s reading statute. The committee voted to sponsor 26 LSO 193 for the 2026 session and moved the draft forward by voice and roll call.
The Legislative Service Office presenter said the appropriation is limited to $120,000 per fiscal year and covers salary and benefits. “Section 1 appropriates the biennial amount of $240,000 from the Public School Foundation program account to the Department of Education for a full‑time employee,” LSO staff told the committee, adding the department supplied the cost estimates at the committee’s August direction.
Department of Education staff clarified how the role will function. “This position will not be supervising anyone,” Dickey Shaner, Department of Education, told the committee. “It will be strictly a literacy person to implement this law.”
Committee members asked whether the hire could be made an at‑will employee serving at the pleasure of the State Superintendent. Legal counsel said there is no constitutional bar to making the position at‑will and noted the bill directs the Department to include the position in its standard budget request.
Motion and vote: Senator Olson moved the bill and Senator Rothfuss seconded. The clerk called the roll and the committee recorded ayes and nays before the chair declared the bill passed; the clerk recorded the roll call and announced the bill had passed the committee.
What’s next: The measure is cleared for sponsorship in the 2026 session; operational details — including human‑resources processing and whether the position is designated at‑will — will be handled by the Department during budget and hiring processes.
The Legislative Service Office presenter said the appropriation is limited to $120,000 per fiscal year and covers salary and benefits. “Section 1 appropriates the biennial amount of $240,000 from the Public School Foundation program account to the Department of Education for a full‑time employee,” LSO staff told the committee, adding the department supplied the cost estimates at the committee’s August direction.
Department of Education staff clarified how the role will function. “This position will not be supervising anyone,” Dickey Shaner, Department of Education, told the committee. “It will be strictly a literacy person to implement this law.”
Committee members asked whether the hire could be made an at‑will employee serving at the pleasure of the State Superintendent. Legal counsel said there is no constitutional bar to making the position at‑will and noted the bill directs the Department to include the position in its standard budget request.
Motion and vote: Senator Olson moved the bill and Senator Rothfuss seconded. The clerk called the roll and the committee recorded ayes and nays before the chair declared the bill passed; the clerk recorded the roll call and announced the bill had passed the committee.
What’s next: The measure is cleared for sponsorship in the 2026 session; operational details — including human‑resources processing and whether the position is designated at‑will — will be handled by the Department during budget and hiring processes.
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