(a)  Except as otherwise provided by law, the public schools of each school district in the state shall at all times be equally free and accessible to all children, including children attending school on a part-time basis, resident therein of five (5) years of age as of August 1, or September 15 if pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xxxviii), of the year in which they may register in kindergarten as provided in W.S. 21-4-302(b) and under the age of twenty-one (21), subject to regulations of the board of trustees.

(b)  Each school district shall operate its schools and its classes for a minimum of one hundred seventy-five (175) days each school year unless an alternative schedule has been approved by the state board. Prior to submission of a proposed alternative schedule to the state board, the board of trustees shall hold at least two (2) advertised public meetings within the district, at which the board shall present the proposed alternative schedule and respond to public questions and comments. Any school district operating under an alternative schedule shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of that schedule in meeting the educational goals and purposes for which the schedule was adopted.

(c)  A parent, guardian or other person having control or charge of any child eligible to attend public school in Wyoming under subsection (a) of this section shall have the option to apply for the ESA program specified by W.S. 21-2-901 on behalf of the child.

(a)  A pupil may register in the first grade in the public schools of this state in the year in which his sixth birthday falls on or before August 1, or September 15 if the child started kindergarten pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xxxviii).

(b)  A pupil may register in kindergarten in the public schools of this state in the year in which his fifth birthday falls on or before August 1, or September 15 if pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xxxviii).

(c)  The board of trustees of a school district may permit the enrollment of pupils in a part-time preschool program with a curriculum based on developmentally appropriate practices funded by the district. The school district may:

(i)  Contract with a preschool program to operate the preschool. The program may use school district facilities or facilities which are provided by others and may utilize the services of personnel who are not school district personnel and which are provided by others;

(ii)  Establish a minimum attendance age for the program, but a pupil must have attained at least his third birthday on or before August 1 of the year in which that pupil enrolls. A pupil who enrolls in such a preschool program shall not be included within the district's average daily membership (ADM) for purposes of receiving state funds or within any other school funding formula for purposes of receiving funds from the state, unless the pupil has attained the minimum age for registration in kindergarten as provided in subsection (b) of this section;

(iii)  Provide, or contract with an outside organization to provide, technical assistance, including occasional classroom instruction regardless of the regularity of such occasional classroom instruction, to preschool programs. Technical assistance may be provided to preschool programs on the basis of location, date of application for such assistance by a program, random selection of a program, or family income, home location, eligibility for a federal program or other socioeconomic characteristics which correlate with risk for unsuccessful academic performance of pupils attending the program. No preschool program shall be required to receive such technical assistance. A district shall not receive any additional financial assistance from the state if the district chooses to provide technical assistance to a preschool program under this paragraph.

(d)  A program shall not discriminate in enrollment on the basis of sex, race, religion or national origin.

(e)  A school district which provides a preschool program under subsection (c) of this section biennially shall assess, through the fourth grade when practical, the school readiness and academic performance of pupils who participate in the program as compared with those who do not participate in the program. The results of any assessment required by this subsection shall be open for public inspection.

(f)  Nothing in this section supersedes W.S. 21-2-701 through 21-2-705.

(a)  For purposes of registration with a school district, a pupil shall be considered a resident of this state if the pupil's parent or guardian is transferred to or is pending transfer to the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order.

(b)  For pupils qualifying under subsection (a) of this section, school districts shall accept enrollment requests electronically. If a school district allows enrollment requests for a pupil to attend a specific school or program, the school district shall allow the enrollment request to be submitted electronically for a pupil qualifying under subsection (a) of this section.

(c)  For pupils qualifying under subsection (a) of this section, a parent or guardian shall provide proof of residence to the pupil's school district within ten (10) days after the pupil first attends the school district.

(d)  As used in this section, "active military duty" means full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the national guard and reserve on active duty orders.

(a)  As used in this section, "active duty military" means full-time duty status in the active uniformed services of the United States. The term does not include members of the national guard and reserve on active duty orders.

(b)  Once enrolled in a public school within the school district, any pupil whose parent or guardian is an active duty military member may transfer enrollment from one (1) public school within the school district where the pupil resides to another public school within the same district at any time, except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section. A transfer of enrollment under this subsection shall require that the active duty military member provide proof of having filed an official complaint with a military base equal opportunity office describing discrimination against the pupil seeking the transfer of enrollment.

(c)  A school district may decline to transfer a pupil seeking a transfer under this section in a particular public school within the district if the pupil seeking a transfer of enrollment has been suspended or expelled or is in the process of being suspended or expelled under W.S. 21-4-305 through 21-4-306.

(d)  Not later than ten (10) days after a school district declines to transfer a pupil seeking a transfer under subsection (c) of this section, a school district shall report its denial to the state superintendent of public instruction.

(e)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a particular public school to offer additional programs, alter the structure or equipment of the necessary facilities to meet any special needs of a pupil, offer a particular program or alter eligibility criteria for participation in a particular program including age requirements, course prerequisites and required levels of performance.

(f)  Any parent or guardian who is an active duty military member aggrieved by a decision of the school district under subsection (c) of this section, may seek review in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act. In accordance with W.S. 16-3-112, the review of a decision of the school district shall be before the state superintendent of public instruction.

(a)  The board of trustees of any school district is authorized to suspend or expel a student subject to the requirements to provide notice and an opportunity to be heard as set forth in this section. The board of trustees may delegate the authority to suspend or expel a student to disciplinarians chosen from the administrative and supervisory staff.

(b)  No student shall be suspended or expelled from school without notice as set forth in this subsection and an opportunity to be heard as set forth in subsection (c) of this section. To provide notice the disciplinarian shall:

(i)  Give the student to be suspended or expelled oral or written notice of the charges against him and an explanation of the evidence the authorities have;

(ii)  In good faith attempt to notify the student's parents, guardians or custodians within twenty-four (24) hours of the student's suspension or expulsion and the reasons for the suspension or expulsion, using contact information on record with the school or district. The disciplinarian shall keep record of the efforts to provide notice under this paragraph and whether the notice was provided successfully;

(iii)  Give the student to be suspended or expelled an opportunity to be heard and to present his version of the charges against him as set forth in subsection (c) of this section;

(c)  To provide an opportunity to be heard the disciplinarian shall give every student to be suspended or expelled the opportunity to be heard as soon as practicable after the misconduct, and in accordance with the following, unless a student requests an extension of time and the board of trustees or the disciplinarian designee of the board approves the extension:

(i)  For a suspension of ten (10) school days or less, notice shall be provided in accordance with paragraph (b)(ii) of this section and a student shall be provided an opportunity to be heard before a student is removed unless the student's presence endangers persons or property or threatens disruption of the academic process, in which case his immediate removal from school may be justified, but the opportunity to be heard shall follow as soon as practicable, and not later than seventy-two (72) hours after his removal, not counting Saturdays and Sundays;

(ii)  For a suspension or expulsion longer than ten (10) school days a hearing shall be held in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and, unless the student requests an extension and the board or the disciplinarian designee of the board approves an extension, the hearing shall be held within ten (10) business days, or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, after the supervisory staff disciplinarian recommends suspension or expulsion to the appropriate administrator. The student's suspension shall continue until the hearing is held.

(d)  Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 164, § 2.

(e)  Suspension or expulsion shall not be imposed as an additional punishment for offenses punishable under the laws of the state, except for expulsion by a district superintendent under subsection (a) of this section, or where the offense was committed at a school function, against the property of the school, or is of such nature that continuation of the child in school would clearly be detrimental to the education, welfare, safety or morals of other pupils. No suspension or expulsion shall be for longer than one (1) year.

(f)  Any decision of the board, or of a designated superintendent, shall be considered a final decision which may be appealed to the district court of the county in which the school district is located, pursuant to provisions of the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act. The court may, on application or on its own motion, stay the decision of the board or superintendent pending appeal, considering both the best interests of the child and the need to maintain an orderly environment conducive to learning for other children.

(g)  As used in this chapter, an "opportunity to be heard" means at a minimum a meeting in which the disciplinarian or his designee provides the substantive information regarding the suspension or expulsion to the student to be suspended, and the student to be suspended may dispute the substantive information provided. An opportunity to be heard does not require a formal hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act except as provided in paragraph (c)(ii) of this section.

(a)  The following shall be grounds for suspension or expulsion of a child from a public school during the school year:

(i)  Continued willful disobedience or open defiance of the authority of school personnel;

(ii)  Willful destruction or defacing of school property during the school year or any recess or vacation;

(iii)  Any behavior which in the judgment of the local board of trustees is clearly detrimental to the education, welfare, safety or morals of other pupils, including the use of foul, profane or abusive language or habitually disruptive behavior as defined by subsection (b) of this section;

(iv)  Torturing, tormenting, or abusing a pupil or in any way maltreating a pupil or a teacher with physical violence;

(v)  Possession, use, transfer, carrying or selling a deadly weapon as defined under W.S. 6-1-104(a)(iv) within any school bus as defined by W.S. 31-7-102(a)(xl) or within the boundaries of real property used by the district primarily for the education of students in grades kindergarten through twelve (12).

(b)  As used in paragraph (a)(iii) of this section, "habitually disruptive behavior" means overt behavior willfully initiated by a student causing disruption in the classroom, on school grounds, on school vehicles or at school activities or events, which requires the attention of a teacher or other school personnel.

(c)  The board of trustees shall, subject to the case-by-case modification permitted by subsection (d) of this section, require the district superintendent to expel from school for a period of one (1) year any student determined to violate paragraph (a)(v) of this section.

(d)  The superintendent with the approval of the board of trustees may modify the period of any expulsion on a case-by-case basis based upon the circumstances of the violation. Upon a violation of paragraph (a)(v) of this section and following notice and hearing requirements of W.S. 21-4-305, the superintendent shall notify the district attorney of the violation together with the specific act in violation of paragraph (a)(v) of this section and the name of the student violating paragraph (a)(v) of this section. Nothing in this section prohibits a district from providing educational services to the expelled student in an alternative setting.

(a)  The board of trustees of any school district within the state may deny admission to any child who:

(i)  Has completed the twelfth grade; or

(ii)  Has such a mental or physical disability that based upon a physician's certificate the board believes such child could not reasonably benefit from the programs available or the attendance of such child would be inimical to the health, safety, or welfare of other pupils; provided, that the board shall make the best possible provision for suitable and adequate education of such child in accordance with the laws of this state.

(a)  Each board of trustees in each school district within the state may adopt rules for reasonable forms of punishment and disciplinary measures. Subject to such rules, teachers, principals, and superintendents in such district may impose reasonable forms of punishment and disciplinary measures for insubordination, disobedience, and other misconduct.

(b)  Teachers, principals and superintendents in each district shall be immune from civil and criminal liability in the exercise of reasonable corporal discipline of a student as authorized by board policy.

(c)  No diploma or credit for a course which has been completed successfully shall be denied a pupil who has earned it; provided, such diploma or credit shall not be deemed earned until payment has been made for all indebtedness due to the school district.

(a)  Any person attending, full or part time, any public or private school, kindergarten through twelfth grade, shall within thirty (30) days after the date of school entry, provide to the appropriate school official written documentary proof of immunization. For purposes of this section, documentary proof of immunization is written certification by a private licensed physician or his representative or by any public health authority, that the person is fully immunized. Documentation shall include month, day and year of each required immunization received against vaccine preventable disease as designated by the state health authority. No school administrator shall permit a student to attend school for more than thirty (30) calendar days without documentary proof of immunization. If immunization requires a series of immunizations over a period of more than thirty (30) calendar days, the child shall be permitted to attend school while receiving continuing immunization if the school administrator receives written notification by a private licensed physician or his representative or by a public health official, specifying a written schedule for necessary immunization completion within the medically accepted time period. Waivers shall be authorized by the state or county health officer upon submission of written evidence of religious objection or medical contraindication to the administration of any vaccine. In the presence of an outbreak of vaccine preventable disease as determined by the state or county health authority, school children for whom a waiver has been issued and who are not immunized against the occurring vaccine preventable disease shall be excluded from school attendance for a period of time determined by the state or county health authority, but not suspended from school as provided in W.S. 21-4-305. Children excluded from school attendance under this section shall not be counted in the aggregate number of pupils absent as defined in W.S. 21-13-101(a)(i).

(b)  The school administrator shall be responsible for an audit of the immunization status of any child enrolled in the school in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the department of health.

(c)  The written documented proof of immunization on a form provided by the state health officer shall be an integral part of the child's school record.

(d)  For purposes of this section:

(i)  "State health officer" means the person appointed by the governor pursuant to W.S. 9-2-103(e);

(ii)  "County health officer" means the licensed medical officer designated by the county commissioners to serve as health officer for his county;

(iii)  "Immunized" or "immunization" means initial immunization and any boosters or reimmunizations required to maintain immunization pursuant to the immunization standards and recommendations issued by the state health officer.

(a)  The district board shall permit a student to possess and self-administer within any school of the district medication required for potentially life threatening conditions if a written statement is submitted to the district containing applicable:

(i)  Parental verification that the student is responsible for and capable of self-administration and parental authorization for self-administration of medication required for potentially life threatening conditions;

(ii)  Health care provider identification of the prescribed or authorized medication required for potentially life threatening conditions and verification of the appropriateness of the student's possession and self-administration of the medication required for potentially life threatening conditions.

(b)  The written statement shall be prescribed by the department of education, with the assistance of the department of health, and shall require the signatures of the parent or guardian of the student and the student's physician or physician's representative.

(c)  As used in this section:

(i)  "Asthma medication" means prescription or nonprescription inhaled asthma medication;

(ii)  "Potentially life threatening conditions" includes, but is not limited to asthma, food allergies and insect bites;

(iii)  "Medication required for potentially life threatening conditions" includes, but is not limited to asthma medication and prescription epinephrine.

(a)  As used in this act:

(i)  "Harassment, intimidation or bullying" means any intentional gesture, any intentional electronic communication or any intentional written, verbal or physical act initiated, occurring or received at school that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of:

(A)  Harming a student physically or emotionally, damaging a student's property or placing a student in reasonable fear of personal harm or property damage;

(B)  Insulting or demeaning a student or group of students causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school; or

(C)  Creating an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student or group of students through sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive behavior.

(ii)  "School" includes a classroom or other location on school premises, a school bus or other school-related vehicle, a school bus stop, an activity or event sponsored by a school, whether or not it is held on school premises, and any other program or function where the school is responsible for the child;

(iii)  "This act" means W.S. 21-4-311 through 21-4-315.

(a)  No person shall engage in:

(i)  Harassment, intimidation or bullying; or

(ii)  Reprisal or retaliation against a victim, witness or person who reports information about an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(a)  Not later than December 31, 2009, each school district shall adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying at school. The school district shall involve parents and guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, administrators and community representatives in the process of creating the policy. Policies created under this section shall be continuously reviewed and may be revised as necessary.

(b)  The policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying shall include, without limitation:

(i)  A statement prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying of a student;

(ii)  A definition of "harassment, intimidation or bullying" which includes at minimum the definition as provided in W.S. 21-4-312(a)(i);

(iii)  Consequences and appropriate remedial actions for persons committing acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying or engaging in reprisal or retaliation;

(iv)  Procedures for reporting and documenting acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including a provision for reporting anonymously. However, formal disciplinary action shall not be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report. The procedures shall identify the appropriate school personnel responsible for receiving a report and investigating a complaint;

(v)  Procedures for prompt investigation of reports or complaints of serious violations;

(vi)  A statement that prohibits reprisal or retaliation against a person who reports or makes a complaint of harassment, intimidation or bullying;

(vii)  A strategy for protecting a victim from additional harassment, intimidation or bullying, and from retaliation following a report;

(viii)  Consequences and appropriate remedial action for a person who is found to have made a false accusation, report or complaint;

(ix)  A process for discussing the district's harassment, intimidation or bullying policy with students; and

(x)  A statement of how the policy is to be publicized, including notice that the policy applies to participation in functions sponsored by the school.

(c)  To assist local school districts in developing a policy under subsection (b) of this section, the department of education shall not later than September 1, 2009, develop model policies applicable to grades kindergarten through twelve (12) and teacher preparation program standards on the identification and prevention of bullying. In addition, the department shall provide necessary training programs and technical assistance to districts in carrying out this act.

(d)  Each local school board shall include the policy adopted by a school district pursuant to this section in a publication of the comprehensive rules, procedures and standards of conduct for schools of a school district and in each school's student's handbook.

(e)  Information regarding the school district's policy against harassment, intimidation or bullying shall be incorporated into each district's professional development programs and shall be provided to volunteers and other noncertified employees of the district who have significant contact with students.

(f)  School districts may establish bullying prevention programs or other initiatives and may involve school staff, students, administrators, volunteers, parents, law enforcement and community members.

(a)  A district board may adopt and implement a policy whereby the district may acquire, maintain and dispense to schools within the district a supply of epinephrine. Upon authorization by the board, school nurses and assigned school personnel may administer stock epinephrine to a student that the school nurse or assigned school personnel in good faith believes is experiencing a severe allergic reaction. A district board shall not be required to obtain a prescription to acquire, maintain or dispense to schools within the district a supply of epinephrine under this section. A district board may enter into arrangements with manufacturers or third-party suppliers of epinephrine to obtain the epinephrine at fair market, free or reduced prices.

(b)  A district board that decides to acquire, maintain and dispense a supply of epinephrine shall:

(i)  Implement a plan based on the guidelines developed pursuant to this section for the management of students with life threatening allergies enrolled in the schools within the district;

(ii)  Make the plan available on the school district's website or the website of each school within the district, or if such websites do not exist, make the plan publicly available through other practicable means as determined by the board.

(c)  The department of education, in consultation with the department of health, shall develop and make available to all schools guidelines for the management of students with life threatening allergies. The guidelines shall include, but not be limited to:

(i)  Identification of life threatening allergies or severe allergic reactions qualifying for the administration of epinephrine under this act;

(ii)  Identification of appropriate and acceptable epinephrine administration devices or methods;

(iii)  Education and training for school personnel on the management of students with life threatening allergies, including training related to the administration of epinephrine;

(iv)  Procedures for responding to life threatening allergies;

(v)  A process for the development of individualized health care and allergy action plans for every student with a life threatening allergy;

(vi)  Protocols to prevent exposure to allergens;

(vii)  Requirements for each school to keep a record of each incident that involves a life threatening allergy or the administration of stock epinephrine;

(viii)  Requirements for schools that have adopted a policy allowing for the administration of stock epinephrine pursuant to this section to maintain a list of employees in the school or school district who have been trained and assigned to administer stock epinephrine;

(ix)  Requirements for school nurses and assigned school personnel to confirm completion of a training program approved by the department of education, in consultation with the department of health.

(d)  A school that possesses and makes available stock epinephrine and those persons specified in this subsection shall not be liable for damages for any injuries that result from the administration of, self-administration of, or failure to administer epinephrine that may constitute ordinary negligence.  This immunity applies regardless of whether authorization was provided by the student's parent or guardian or by the student's health care provider.  This immunity does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, willful or wanton negligence.  The administration of stock epinephrine in accordance with this section is not the practice of medicine.  The immunity from liability provided under this section is in addition to and not in lieu of that provided under W.S. 1-1-120. The immunity provided in this subsection extends to:

(i)  A district board, school nurses, employees, agents and volunteers of the district;

(ii)  An authorized health care provider who prescribes stock epinephrine; and

(iii)  An individual or entity that conducts the training described in this section.

(e)  As used in this section:

(i)  "Administer" or "administration" means the direct application of stock epinephrine;

(ii)  "Assigned school personnel" means an employee, agent or volunteer of a school designated by the administrator of the school who has completed the training required under this section to provide or administer stock epinephrine;

(iii)  "Authorized health care provider" means an individual authorized by law to prescribe and administer prescription drugs in the course of professional practice;

(iv)  "Provide" means the supply of one (1) or more stock epinephrine doses;

(v)  "Stock epinephrine" means medications used for the treatment of severe, life-threatening allergies that schools or districts buy and keep on-site for emergency use.

(f)  Nothing in this section shall be held to apply to or affect W.S. 21-4-310.