Idaho Digital Learning Academy gains enrollments; funding now tied to per‑course enrollment and board to consider lowering fees

BOISE — The Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) is operating as a separate division for the first budget year after the legislature revised its funding formula, and committee analysts told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 4 that enrollment growth is driving the program’s budget.

Jared Tetrault told members that IDLA’s appropriation is now tied to course enrollments under last session’s House Bill 452 and that the per‑course funding rate is $430 per eligible enrollment. "The number of estimated enrollments in the current year was budgeted at 49,680. Current number hovering closer to 52,000," Tetrault said. He added that IDLA estimated enrollments can change the appropriation automatically — for example, a final higher enrollment number would increase the withdrawal from the state appropriation process if not budgeted at an equivalent level.

Financial snapshot: Tetrault showed IDLA’s audited cash balances: the program began fiscal 2024 with roughly $5 million and ended with about $8.5 million. For fiscal 2025 the budgeted enrollment and resulting appropriation was $21,362,400 for 49,680 enrollments; analysts noted that each additional thousand enrollments changes the appropriation materially given the per‑course funding.

Program changes and services: Superintendent Jeff Simmons told the committee IDLA serves dual‑credit, credit‑recovery and advanced‑opportunity courses and is increasingly used for elementary literacy intervention and driver’s education. Simmons said driver’s education enrollments this year already exceed last year’s total; he also described an elementary K–5 literacy program that pairs IDLA certified elementary teachers with in‑person teachers to provide smaller‑group instruction.

Course fee and access: Simmons said the IDLA board is considering a proposal to reduce the statutory course fee currently capped at $75 to $40 for next year; the department said the reduction would be $35 per course and the agency expects to maintain financial stability while lowering that participation barrier. "We are proposing a $40 course fee, which is a $35 reduction for next year," Simmons said, noting the board would act on the change.

Other details: IDLA reported roughly 101 full‑time positions and additional part‑time teachers and principals, and the agency can charge district fees capped by statute at $75 per course. Tetrault said IDLA generates some district revenues and that their budget for 2026 includes a statutory change being considered to raise the per‑course rate to $445 if the committee and legislature adopt an adjustment now on the calendar.

Next steps: Committee members asked for additional enrollment projections and a fiscal scenario if IDLA surpasses its estimate. IDLA and LSO analysts said they would provide updated enrollment projections and the committee will consider any statutory changes tied to the per‑course funding rate as part of upcoming appropriation work.