GOP candidates for Wyoming’s education chief talk school choice, funding and testing load

July 17, 2026 - 23:32

Though Auer, Harshman, and Kelly were aligned on most issues during Thursday's forum, degrees of difference emerged in experience, philosophies, and priorities for helming the Department of Education. The three Republican candidates vying to become Wyoming's next superintendent of public instruction spent the evening outlining their visions for the state's schools, with school choice emerging as a key dividing line.

All three expressed support for expanding educational options, but they differed on how far to go. One candidate argued for a robust voucher-style program that would allow public dollars to follow students to private or religious schools. Another cautioned that such a move could drain resources from already struggling rural districts, advocating instead for more charter schools within the public system. The third candidate took a middle ground, supporting limited choice mechanisms but stressing the need to maintain strong local control over school boards.

Funding was another hot topic. With the state's mineral revenues declining, the candidates debated how to sustain school budgets without raising taxes. One proposed a complete audit of the department to cut administrative waste, while another called for a renewed push to diversify the state's economy so education funding is less tied to energy booms and busts. The third candidate focused on the classroom, arguing that money should be redirected from bureaucracy to teacher salaries and classroom supplies.

On testing, the candidates found more common ground. All agreed that the current assessment load is too heavy and takes time away from instruction. However, they split on whether to eliminate the statewide proficiency tests entirely or simply reduce their frequency. One candidate proposed replacing standardized tests with portfolio-based assessments, a move that drew skepticism from the others who warned it could lower accountability standards.

The forum highlighted a race where the candidates share a party label but offer distinctly different paths for Wyoming's 300,000 public school students. With the primary election approaching, voters will have to weigh which candidate's blend of experience and philosophy best fits the state's unique educational landscape.