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Idaho Digital Learning Academy budget rises with enrollment; board considering lower student course fee
Summary
IDLA became its own division and its appropriation now follows enrollments. Presenters reported enrollment growth near 52,000 and a separate proposal to reduce the per‑course student fee from $75 to $40 is under board consideration.
Legislative analysts briefed the committee March 4 that the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) is now budgeted as a separate division and its state appropriation is tied to the number of course enrollments. Jared Tetrault said the current statutory funding level is $430 per eligible enrollment and the academy’s budget changes with enrollment totals.
Tetrault reported the agency estimated budgeted enrollments of 49,680 for the current appropriation (a $21,362,400 base) and that actual enrollments had risen to just over 52,000 at the time of the hearing. He noted the agency’s cash balance grew from about $5 million to $8.5 million in fiscal 2024 and that, if enrollments exceed the estimate, the committee could see withdrawals from the stabilization fund (a “piece of withdrawal”) to cover the enrollment‑driven increase; staff identified a roughly $1.4 million effect if enrollments reached 53,000.
IDLA’s superintendent, Jeff Simmons, told the committee IDLA operates 101 full‑time positions and several hundred part‑time teachers and principals and offers K‑12 online courses for dual credit, credit recovery and subjects not available locally. Simmons said some course areas are driving growth —particularly driver’s education and an elementary K‑5 literacy program— and that the academy reports a high completion rate: "We have an internal strategic goal of trying to reach a 90% pass rate. Last year we hit 89 percent. I'm highly confident we will hit that 90% this year," Simmons said.
Simmons also told the committee his board is considering a reduction in the statutory course fee. IDLA currently may charge a district‑imposed fee up to a $75 cap; Simmons said the academy has a board proposal to reduce the student course fee to $40 for the next year, a $35 per‑course reduction, and that some course fees and textbook costs have already been removed using open educational resources.
What was not decided: The committee did not take any votes. Staff and the academy will provide enrollment and fiscal follow‑up as the session proceeds; statutory language to change the $430 per‑enrollment rate to $445 was also referenced as contingent on a separate bill (HB251) under consideration.
