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Idaho Digital Learning Academy grows enrollments; board considers lowering course fee to $40
Summary
IDLA — now a separate division — reported enrollment growth to about 52,000 courses, a fund balance above $8 million and a budget based on per‑course funding; the academy’s board is proposing to cut the statutory $75 course fee to $40 for next year.
The Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) appeared before the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 4 after being established as its own division. Jared Tetrault told the committee that IDLA’s appropriation is now tied to enrollment and that courses are funded at $430 per eligible enrollment under the statute enacted last session (House Bill 452).
IDLA Superintendent Jeff Simmons said the academy budgeted enrollment at about 49,680 but current enrollments are hovering closer to 52,000. Tetrault warned the committee that budgeted appropriation is an estimate submitted before fall enrollment finalizes; a higher actual enrollment can trigger a PSIF withdrawal to cover the difference. “We were asked to provide that budget projection number before we know our fall enrollment number,” Simmons said. “We have started providing a higher estimate on that enrollment because we don't want to be a PSIF withdrawal.”
Key figures and organization - Funding formula: $430 per eligible enrollment (statutory). The committee was told the Legislature or committee may need a technical change to raise the statutory amount to $445 if the committee acts on the DEO maintenance change pending in HB251. - FY25 appropriation (base): about $21.36 million for 49,680 enrollments; IDLA’s fiscal‑year end fund balance grew from roughly $5 million to about $8.5 million in FY24. - Staffing and operations: IDLA reported roughly 101 full‑time positions, about 444 part‑time teachers and 43 active part‑time principals.
Course fees and access IDLA is permitted by statute to charge a district fee capped at $75 per course. Superintendent Simmons said the agency’s board is considering a proposal to reduce the fee to $40 for the coming year; he described a plan to “whittle away” fees using open educational resources and other cost savings. “We are proposing a $40 course fee, which is a $35 reduction for next year,” Simmons said.
Programs and growth drivers Committee members asked about the sources of enrollment growth. Simmons said driver‑education enrollments have surged (January enrollments exceeded the prior school year) and that IDLA’s K–5 elementary literacy program — delivered with Istation — has strong demand. IDLA reported a strategic target of a 90% course pass rate and said it reported an 89% pass rate the prior year.
Financial risk and next steps Tetrault noted that if actual enrollments exceed the appropriation estimate, the agency would seek statutory adjustments or a PSIF withdrawal to reconcile distributions; IDLA has also generated local revenue through district fees (statutory cap $75). The committee did not vote on funding changes; analysts and IDLA staff said they will provide final enrollment counts and net appropriation impacts as the session continues.
Ending Lawmakers were told IDLA’s per‑enrollment funding model and rising enrollments make final budget figures sensitive to fall enrollment counts; the board’s pending fee reduction could reduce cost barriers for students if the agency maintains projected revenues.
