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Digital learning program sees enrollment rebound; IDLA proposes course‑fee cut to $40
Summary
The committee reviewed Idaho Digital Learning Academy’s first standalone division budget, growth in enrollments and a board‑level proposal to cut per‑course fees from $75 to $40 while expanding elementary literacy and driver‑education offerings that are driving demand.
Boise — Legislators and analysts on March 4 discussed the budget and enrollment trends for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) after the program was established as its own division for the current budget cycle.
Jared Tetrault of the Legislative Services Office summarized the statutory funding change under last session’s House Bill 452: IDLA’s appropriation is now tied to course enrollments at $430 per eligible enrollment. "The number of estimated enrollments in the current year was budgeted at 49,680," Tetrault said, adding the actual current‑year enrollments were closer to 52,000 and that the appropriation will adjust to actual enrollments when reconciled.
IDLA Superintendent Jeff Simmons told the committee the program has seen sustained growth in several areas, including driver‑education courses and a K‑5 elementary literacy program. "As of January of this year, we'd already served more driver's ed enrollments than we had the previous entire school year," Simmons said. He added that the K‑5 literacy work uses the Istation platform so IDLA can align reading assessments and show growth on the same measures schools use.
Tetrault and Simmons described how IDLA’s revenue and expenditures track enrollments. The LSO presentation showed IDLA ended fiscal 2024 with an increase in cash balance, and that a statutory change under consideration — increasing the per‑enrollment payment from $430 to $445 — was estimated in the materials as a potential $3.5 million increase based on projected enrollments.
Simmons also reported an active effort to reduce barriers for students who pay course fees. Under current Idaho Code the committee caps the per‑course district fee at $75; Simmons said IDLA's board was considering a proposal to reduce the fee to $40 for the upcoming year. "We have a proposal now in front of our board to reduce our course fee," Simmons said; he added IDLA expects the reduction to be fiscally manageable while lowering a cost barrier for some families.
Committee members asked about course completion and outcomes. Simmons said IDLA reports a final percentage grade to the enrolling school and that the academy tracks an internal goal of a 90% pass rate across courses; he said IDLA achieved an 89% pass rate last year. On elementary literacy, Simmons said IDLA’s model pairs an in‑person teacher with an IDLA certified teacher for targeted reading instruction and that summer participation showed reduced fall learning loss for participants.
Why it matters: IDLA supplies courses that small or rural districts may not be able to staff, allowing students statewide to access dual credit, recovery, advanced opportunities and specialty courses. Enrollment growth directly affects IDLA’s appropriation because the funding formula now ties payment to course enrollments.
The committee did not take formal action; analysts noted the committee will need to reconcile appropriation amounts with final enrollment counts and any statutory changes to the per‑enrollment rate.
