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Idaho Digital Learning Academy enrollment rises; funding tied to per‑course rate and fee reduction proposed
Summary
IDLA enrollments have climbed above 52,000, driving its budget higher because the program is now funded per enrolled course. IDLA leaders told JFAC they expect continued growth, a statutory per‑enrollment rate change if HB251 passes, and they proposed lowering the course fee from $75 to $40.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee heard on March 4 that the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) has seen steady enrollment growth and that its appropriation is now directly tied to per‑course enrollments rather than a fixed portion of the public‑schools budget.
Jared Tetrault of the Legislative Services Office told the committee that IDLA’s budget was built on a $430 per eligible enrollment rate under a funding change the Legislature approved last session (House Bill 452). He said the 2025 budget was set for 49,680 enrollments at roughly $21.36 million but that IDLA’s actual enrollment estimates were closer to 52,000, which would increase required funding. Tetrault said that if House Bill 251 becomes law the per‑enrollment funding would move to $445 and that higher enrollment estimates could require a PSIF withdrawal or an adjustment to the appropriation.
“...the appropriation is now set based on enrollments,” Tetrault said, describing the mechanics the committee will use to reconcile the budget to actual enrollment counts.
Superintendent Jeff Simmons, IDLA, described program growth and offered operational context: IDLA lists roughly 101 full‑time positions on its website and about 444 part‑time teachers; the academy also reported 43 active part‑time principals. Simmons told the committee IDLA had multiple growth drivers including a large increase in driver’s‑education enrollments (January enrollments already exceeded the prior full school year) and an expanding K–5 elementary literacy program that pairs a certified elementary teacher with classroom teachers to provide small‑group literacy instruction using Istation assessment tools.
On costs and balances: Tetrault showed IDLA’s audited fund balance grew from about $5.0 million at the start of FY24 to roughly $8.5 million at year end. That reserve reduces year‑end financial risk but the department is still responsible for aligning a per‑enrollment appropriation with fall actuals; Tetrault said a difference between the budgeted enrollment and the final enrollment can create an expected withdrawal amount if the appropriation falls short.
Course fees and access: Simmons told the committee the IDLA board has a proposal to reduce the statutory $75 course fee to $40 for the coming year to lower barriers for students. He also described work to remove textbook fees in at least one college‑level course by leveraging open educational resources.
Outcomes and quality control: IDLA reports program metrics to partner districts and provides final grades back to the sending school. Simmons said IDLA’s internal goal is a 90% pass rate on course completions; last year the academy reported an 89% pass rate and he said he is confident the program will reach 90% this year.
Procurement and assessments: Tetrault noted the Idaho Reading Indicator procurement resulted in a vendor selection (Istation) for statewide IRI work; Gideon Tolman of the Department of Education described Istation’s enhanced Idaho‑specific features as a reason for additional appropriation in the literacy/assessment line.
No formal committee action was taken at the hearing. The committee will need to track final enrollment numbers and any legislative changes to the statutory per‑enrollment rate to finalize IDLA’s appropriation for FY2026.
