3
PROFILES
Idaho
DIGITAL LEARNING
STATE SNAPSHOT
Idaho Digital Learning Academy
is one of the larger state virtual
schools with 20,820 course
enrollments in SY 2013–14.
Availability of online learning options
SUPPLEMENTAL
FULLY ONLINE
K-5 (ES)
6-8 (MS)
9-12 (HS)
K-5 (ES)
6-8 (MS)
9-12 (HS)
NONE
SOME
MOST
ALL
ALL
ALL
Does this state have…
Student choice for publicly funded fully
online schools?
Student choice for publicly funded supplemental
online courses?
Y
Availability
of info:
Great
Good
Fair
Poor
Minimal
N
8 fully online
schools in SY
2014–15.
SVS or another publicly funded option for private /
homeschool students?
Prior public school attendance requirement for
online schools?
Online caps by class, school, district, or statewide?
PD requirement for online teachers?
State approval process for online providers?
Eight fully online schools are
State approval process for online courses?
operating in Idaho in SY 2014–15.
The seven virtual charters
operating in SY 2013–14 enrolled
Online learning requirement for students?
5,079 students.
End-of-course exams?
Separate state reporting of online course
enrollments?
As of 2013 for
courses and
providers. Existing
providers were
exempt.
7,372 district
online enrollments
in addition to IDLA
enrollments.
Idaho has one of the largest state virtual schools (the Idaho Digital Learning
Academy), a number of fully online schools, district programs, and a state distance
education academy.205 The Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) served 20,820 course enrollments
in SY 2013–14, a 9% increase from SY 2012–13. Seven virtual charter schools enrolled 5,079 students in
SY 2013–14, a 3% decrease from the previous year. One new virtual charter school opened in fall 2014.
There are some district online programs, including the Meridian, Bonneville, Vallivue, Emmett, and
Coeur d’Alene school districts.
State policies
SB1184 and several other laws that passed in 2011 emphasized a technology-driven education agenda
advanced by the superintendent of public instruction. After the laws passed, opponents gathered enough
signatures to place a referendum on the November 2012 state ballot, and the laws were repealed. For
additional details, please see www.kpk12.com/states.
With SB1184, IDLA funding decreased with the elimination of its state appropriation, however, with
the repeal of the law, IDLA’s appropriation was restored. SB1091206 (2013) re-established IDLA’s state
appropriation, albeit with a simplified version of IDLA’s original funding formula. IDLA receives a base
amount of $1.38 million for operations for SY 2014–15, plus a variable amount based on fixed funding
205
Idaho Public Charter Schools, see “Other” tab; retrieved June 11, 2014; http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/charter_schools/regions.htm. Idaho Distance
Education Academy is similar to a virtual charter but is classified as a distance education academy.
206
SB1091 (2013); retrieved July 8, 2014; http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2013/S1091Bookmark.htm
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KEEPING PACE WITH K-12 DIGITAL LEARNING
KPK12.COM
per online course ($221 per course) multiplied by a projection of 22,500 course enrollments for SY 2014–
15. IDLA’s total budget for SY 2014–15 is about $7.5 million.
SB1091 (2013; ID Code 33-1024)207 appropriated funds for the development and maintenance of an
online course portal to include courses from IDLA, school districts, charter schools, and postsecondary
institutions.208 The portal launched in 2014 and incorporates customer ratings, and notification and
communications capabilities. SB1091 (ID Code 08.02.03.128) also requires the State Department of
Education (SDE) to develop and administer the review and approval of online course providers and
courses;209 however, Idaho public school districts, public charter schools, institutions of higher education,
education management organizations, or consortia—including IDLA—are automatically approved to provide
online courses.
SB1028 (2013) revised Idaho SDE rule210 to remove “pilot” status around an initiative, Mastery
Advancement Program (MAP), that allows students to earn credit by demonstrating mastery of a subject
instead of only being allowed to earn credit through seat time, and to “successfully proceed through school
curriculum at their own pace.”211 Standards are to be defined and approved by the local school district or
local education agency by submitting an application to participate in the mastery advancement program to
the SBE. At least 13 schools and districts participated in MAP in SY 2013–14.212
HB221 (2013)213 revised new virtual charter school petitions and prohibited a local school district board of
trustees from authorizing a new public virtual school charter. The law defines a virtual school as one “that
delivers a full-time, sequential program of synchronous and/or asynchronous instruction primarily through
the use of technology via the Internet in a distributed environment … and must have an online component
to their school with online lessons and tools for student and data management.”
Digital programs
There are eight fully online schools serving students in Idaho in SY 2014–15, including one new virtual
charter school. Seven virtual charter schools enrolled 5,079 students in 2013–14, 3% less than in SY
2012–13. Idaho uses the same funding formula for virtual and brick-and-mortar charter schools. Qualifying
virtual charters receive transportation funding214 and all are eligible for facilities funding.
During SY 2013–14, IDLA launched iPath, a career and college readiness program that provides online
courses to help students earn early degrees or college credits in computer science, business, and health
care. The program includes practical experience through mentorships and internships. IDLA also worked
with the state board of education to create the Transfer Portal,215 which allows students to view all online
and traditional dual credit, Advanced Placement, and postsecondary courses completed, and verify the
transferability from institution to institution.
IDLA provides blended learning services to 44 of 115 Idaho districts. Districts are using IDLA online
content, the learning management system, and professional development with 275 teachers and over
5,000 students participating in blended environments, including one district’s creation of a grade 5–12
math mastery program.​
207
Idaho Code 33-1024; retrieved July 9, 2014; http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title33/T33CH10SECT33-1024.htm
MyIdahoCourses; retrieved July 8, 2014; https://www.myidahocourses.org/
209
Online course and provider quality requirements; retrieved July 8, 2014; http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/digitalLearning/qualityRequirements.htm
210
Idaho statutes; retrieved July 8, 2014; http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title33/T33CH16SECT33-1620.htm
211
IDAPA 08.02.03.105 Rules Governing Thoroughness; retrieved July 8, 2014; http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/forms/publicComments/2013/Proposed%20
Fee%20Rule%20-%20IDAPA%2008.02.03.128,%20Curricular%20Materials%20Selection%20and%20Online.pdf
212
Mastery Advancement Program; retrieved July 16, 2014; http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/map/docs/MAP%202013%20Participating%20Districts-Schools.pdf
213
HB221 (2013); retrieved July 3, 2014; http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2013/H0221.pdf
214
Idaho Code 33-1006(6); retrieved July 17, 2014; http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title33/T33CH10SECT33-1006.htm. Virtual charters use transportation
funding to provide Internet access, computers and related equipment, toll-free telephone service, education related face-to-face visits, and actual pupil
transportation costs.
215
Idtransfer.org; retrieved July 17, 2014; http://idtransfer.org
208
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