TITLE 33

EDUCATION

CHAPTER 10

FOUNDATION PROGRAM — STATE AID — APPORTIONMENT

33-1020.  Idaho digital learning academy funding. 

(1)(a)  An amount of four hundred forty-five dollars ($445) per enrollment shall be distributed to support the Idaho digital learning academy, created pursuant to chapter 55, title 33, Idaho Code. For the purposes of this section, an "enrollment" shall be counted each time an Idaho school age child enrolls in an Idaho digital learning academy course and continues to be enrolled in such course past the deadline to withdraw, where such withdrawal would not result in the course appearing on such child’s transcript in any way. If a student disenrolls from an Idaho digital learning academy course within the withdrawal window, the fee shall be returned to the payer. A single child enrolled in multiple courses shall count as multiple enrollments. Summer enrollments shall be included in the fiscal year that begins that summer. A registered course shall be eligible for state funding only if:

(i)   The student is enrolled in an Idaho school district or public charter school that is not entirely virtual;

(ii)  The course is not a driver’s education course; and

(iii) The student is not enrolled in a custom section unless the emergency clause is applicable.

(b)  If a student wants to enroll in an Idaho digital learning academy course that does not meet the criteria for state funding under this section, such student may enroll in such course if the school district or public charter school pays the fees for the course as set by the state board of education.

(2)  The state department of education shall make an estimated distribution of funds to the Idaho digital learning academy by no later than July 31 of each fiscal year, consisting of eighty percent (80%) of the estimated funding for the fiscal year. The balance of all remaining funds to be distributed, pursuant to the calculations in this section, shall be distributed by no later than May 15 of the same fiscal year. The state department of education shall reconcile the enrollments prior to the May 15 payment and withhold or recover any costs necessary to align the funding with verified enrollments. The joint finance-appropriations committee shall consider adjusting the per enrollment amount each legislative session by a percentage increase equal to the percentage increase approved for salary increases for instructional and pupil service staff pursuant to section 33-1004B, Idaho Code, and for administrative and classified staff pursuant to section 33-1004E, Idaho Code.

(3)  The academy board of directors shall report to the state board of education during the 2027 legislative session on the status of courses and provide recommendations and a strategic plan on how to manage digital learning throughout the state.

History:

[33-1020, added 2007, ch. 353, sec. 12, p. 1049; am. 2011, ch. 247, sec. 11, p. 683; am. 2011, ch. 300, sec. 5, p. 862; am. 2013, ch. 154, sec. 2, p. 364; am. 2024, ch. 17, sec. 1, p. 157; am. 2025, ch. 267, sec. 7, p. 1156; am. 2026, ch. 319, sec. 4, p. 1281.]