Idaho Digital Learning Academy sees enrollment growth; superintendent proposes cutting student course fee to $40

Jared Tetrault, LSO deputy division manager, told the committee that the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) is now established as its own division and that its appropriation is tied to course enrollments rather than a fixed line under the public schools appropriation. "The number of estimated enrollments in the current year was budgeted at 49,680. Current number hovering closer to 52,000," Tetrault said, noting IDLA is funded at $430 per eligible enrollment under the revised formula from last session (House Bill 452).

IDLA Superintendent Jeff Simmons told the committee the academy recorded significant growth in several program areas and that the agency has increased its reserves as enrollments rose. He said the program now has about 101 full-time positions, roughly 444 part-time teachers and 43 active part-time principals, and reported a fiscal year 2024 year-end unrestricted balance that rose from about $5.0 million to $8.5 million.

Why it matters: because IDLA's appropriation is enrollment-driven, higher actual enrollments require an appropriation adjustment or a withdrawal from the Public Education Stabilization Fund when the budgeted enrollment estimate is exceeded. Tetrault said the budget was set using a 49,680 enrollment estimate at $430; if actual enrollments rise substantially above that estimate, JFAC may need to adjust the appropriation.

Committee members asked about program growth and costs. Simmons said the academy has seen rapid growth in driver's education ("as of January of this year, had already served more driver's ed enrollments than we had the previous entire school year") and in elementary literacy services, where IDLA provides Istation-based instruction and certified teachers to supplement local classrooms. Simmons described the elementary offering as bringing a certified teacher plus software-based instruction so an in-person classroom might receive two teachers during reading time to enable more individualized instruction.

On course fees, Simmons said the IDLA board is proposing a lower per-course fee to reduce barriers: "We are proposing a $40 course fee, which is a $35 reduction for next year," he told the committee, adding the agency believes it can sustain the lower fee without compromising operations. The committee heard that statute and committee rules permit IDLA to charge a per-course fee (the committee has capped the fee at $75 in prior practice), and Simmons said IDLA will continue efforts to reduce textbook and other course costs using open education resources.

Tetrault and Simmons also discussed a pending statutory change: a maintenance decision package in HB251 would increase the per-enrollment rate from $430 to $445 if enacted; Tetrault described the $3.5 million estimate as tied to a projected 58,000 enrollments used for the statutory calculation. IDLA officials said they are tracking enrollments closely and that a mid-session appropriation adjustment could be required if estimates diverge from final counts.

Committee members asked for additional details on how many districts already use routing/transportation software (a separate public school item) and on metrics for IDLA courses. Simmons said IDLA reports a final percentage grade to the enrolling school and has an internal goal of a 90% pass rate across courses; he said IDLA reported an 89% pass rate the prior year and expects to meet the 90% goal this year.

The committee took note of the fiscal balances and the proposed fee reduction; staff and IDLA agreed to provide further enrollment tracking and the committee advanced to the next item after questions concluded.