CASPER – The Wyoming High School Activities Association (WHSAA) board convened in Casper on April 28. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the projected funding shortfall for student activities and athletics resulting from recent changes to Wyoming’s school funding model.
Board members reviewed the impact of the 2026 legislative recalibration bill, which introduced a new “silo” approach to the state’s block grant funding. Under this model, funding allocated for student activities and extra-duty responsibilities has decreased from $46.3 million to $42.4 million – a reduction of approximately 8.4 percent for school districts across Wyoming. This would result in cuts requiring extreme restructuring of existing activities and athletic offerings for Wyoming students.
Immediate and long-term impacts
District leaders, including athletic directors, superintendents, school board members and a representative from the Wyoming Department of Education shared plans for addressing the shortfall.
Most districts indicated they will rely on cash carryover funds to support activities and athletics during the 2026-2027 school year. However, this approach is widely viewed as a temporary, one-year solution rather than a sustainable path forward.
Potential adjustments under consideration
The WHSAA board discussed potential strategies to balance rising costs with reduced funding. These options are exploratory and intended to simulate ongoing collaborations with school districts.
Possibilities include:
• Culminating events – eliminate regional tournaments, eliminate consolation games, limit number of teams qualifying for state events, limit number of individuals participating in culminating events
• Regular season events – eliminate or reduce regular season tournaments and reduce the number of contestants in every sport
• Program cuts – based on number of schools and students participating, availability of a separate season and cost to schools, cuts could include soccer, indoor track, Nordic skiing, alpine skiing, swimming, spring golf and spring tennis
• Activities – reduce in-person speech and debate events, limit speech and debate workshop events, centrally locate all-state music events, eliminate participation in national events, eliminate overnight travel for FFA and SkillsUSA events
Recommendations to schools
• Limit number of teams (possibly eliminate freshmen, sophomore, JV or ‘C’ teams)
• Use fewer officials for events
• Set limits for number of players on teams
• No funding for national travel
• Contests restricted to Fridays and Saturdays to minimize substitute teacher costs
• Increase gate admission
• Implement or increase a student participation fee
Importance of activities and broader impacts
Board members emphasized that activities and athletics play a critical role in student success. These programs foster leadership, teamwork, character development and a sense of belonging. For many students, participation in activities is a key factor in their engagement with school and their path to graduation.
The board also noted that reductions in activities could have broader economic consequences for communities across Wyoming, including decreased travel-related revenue for local businesses.
The WHSAA remains committed to supporting Wyoming students and will continue working closely with school districts to identify solutions. This includes exploring cost-saving measures, forming a collaborative committee and engaging with parents, communities and policymakers.
WHSAA also encourages continued dialogue with state legislators to ensure that funding decisions reflect the value and impact of student activities and athletics throughout Wyoming.
