Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Idla topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
IDLA enrollment rises to about 52,000; superintendent proposes cutting student course fee
Summary
The Idaho Digital Learning Academy told the finance committee its enrollments have recovered to roughly 52,000, its revenue is now tied to per‑course enrollments and the agency is proposing a board action to cut the current $75 student course fee to $40.
BOISE — On March 4 the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee heard that the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) has seen renewed enrollment growth after the pandemic and now expects roughly 52,000 course enrollments in the current year, IDLA Superintendent Jeff Simmons said.
Funding mechanics and enrollment
Jared Tetrault of the Legislative Services Office explained that a 2024 change (House Bill 452) revised IDLA’s funding formula so appropriations are now tied directly to the number of course enrollments rather than the previous public school appropriation. Under current law IDLA receives $430 per eligible enrollment; Tetrault said a separate pending action tied to House Bill 251 would raise that statutory figure to $445 per enrollment if enacted.
Tetrault also showed IDLA’s fiscal picture: the academy began fiscal year 2024 with a roughly $5.0 million cash balance and ended the year with about $8.5 million. Because the appropriation is set before final fall enrollments are known, large enrollment increases can require a withdrawal from the Public Education Stabilization Fund (PSIF) if the agency’s actual enrollments exceed appropriated funding.
Growth areas and programs
Jeff Simmons said two of IDLA’s fastest‑growing program areas are high‑demand courses such as driver education (Simmons said January enrollments that year already exceeded the prior entire school year's enrollments) and an elementary K–5 literacy intervention that pairs IDLA teachers with local classroom teachers. Simmons said IDLA reports a final percentage grade to the home school when a course completes and that the agency has an internal goal of a 90% pass rate; for the previous year IDLA reported an 89% pass rate and expects to reach the 90% target this year.
Course fee proposal
Simmons told the committee the agency has the statutory authority to charge a course fee (capped by statute at $75) and that IDLA’s board is considering lowering that fee. "We are proposing a $40 course fee, which is a $35 reduction for next year," Simmons said; he told the committee he believes the agency can maintain financial stability while reducing the fee to ease access for families.
Other items
Tetrault confirmed IDLA is budgeted at $430 per enrollment for the current appropriation level; the committee was also told that if fall enrollments substantially exceed the budgeted estimate, the Legislature may be asked to authorize a PSIF withdrawal or an appropriation adjustment. IDLA reported roughly 101 full‑time positions, about 444 part‑time teachers and 43 part‑time principals on its staffing table and said it continues to invest in curriculum, AI tools and parent engagement to expand access and reduce barriers.
No committee action was taken at the hearing; analysts and IDLA leaders answered member questions and agreed to provide details if committee members requested further information about enrollment projections, course fees and cost‑saving measures.
