TITLE 33

EDUCATION

CHAPTER 46

ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES

33-4603.  advanced opportunities — nonpublic school students. 

(1)(a)  Subject to appropriation, students will be eligible to receive up to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) to use toward dual credits, postsecondary credit-bearing examinations, and career technical education certificate examinations. To be eligible to receive the funds pursuant to this subsection, a student shall:

(i)   Reside in Idaho;

(ii)  Be enrolled in grades 7 through 12;

(iii) Not be the beneficiary of any funds pursuant to section 33-4602, Idaho Code; and

(iv)  Attend a nonpublic school located in Idaho that meets the accreditation standards of an accrediting body recognized by the state board of education.

(b)  Up to seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per credit hour may be used for dual credits. Dual credit courses shall be offered by a regionally accredited postsecondary institution. To qualify as an eligible dual credit course, the course shall be a credit-bearing 100-level course or higher.

(c)  The state department of education shall maintain a list of eligible postsecondary credit-bearing or career technical education certificate examinations and costs. Eligible examinations include:

(i)   Advanced placement (AP);

(ii)  International baccalaureate (IB);

(iii) College-level examination program (CLEP); and

(iv)  Career technical education examinations that lead to an industry-recognized certificate, license, or degree.

(d)  For college entrance examinations and preliminary college entrance examinations, the state department of education shall maintain a list of eligible examinations and costs. Eligible costs include the cost of the examination, proctor fees, and administrative fees. Eligible examinations include the SAT, the PSAT, the ACT, and other similar examinations identified by the department.

(2)  Moneys provided pursuant to this section may be used to pay an amount not to exceed the price to the student of eligible courses and examinations pursuant to the limitations stated in this section. Payments made under this section shall be made from the moneys appropriated. No later than January 15, the state department of education shall annually report to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives details regarding the number of students benefiting from assistance with the cost of dual credit courses and examinations, the number of credits awarded, and the amounts paid pursuant to this section during the previous school year.

(3)  The state department of education shall reimburse postsecondary educational institutions directly, as applicable, for such costs, up to the stated limits. Those expenses not affiliated with an Idaho postsecondary institution shall be paid to the student’s middle or secondary school. Payments shall be made within one hundred twenty-five (125) days of receiving the necessary data upon which reimbursements may be paid. The submission method and timelines of reimbursement data shall be determined by the state department of education. Payments shall be made only for activity occurring and reported within each state fiscal year.

(4)  If a student fails to earn credit or successfully complete a course or exam for which the department has paid a reimbursement, the student shall pay for and successfully earn credit or pay for an examination before the state department of education pays any further reimbursements for the student. Except for exams allowed under subsection (1)(d) of this section, repeated and remedial courses and examinations are not eligible for funding under this section.

(5)  Schools shall establish timelines and requirements for participation in the program, including implementing procedures for the appropriate transcription of credits, reporting of program participation, and financial transaction requirements. Policies and procedures for participating in the program established by the school shall be such that students have an opportunity to participate in the program and meet established timelines and requirements for financial transactions, transcribing credits, and state department of education reporting. Participation in this program requires parent and student agreement to program requirements and completion of the state department of education’s participation form documenting the program requirements.

(6)  The state department of education shall reimburse community colleges or counties, as applicable, for any out-of-district county tuition pursuant to section 33-2110A, Idaho Code. Such reimbursements shall be in an amount not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per credit hour and only for dual credit courses taken pursuant to this section.

(7)  A student who has earned fifteen (15) postsecondary credits using the advanced opportunities program and who wishes to earn additional credits shall first identify postsecondary goals. Advisors shall counsel any student who wishes to take dual credit courses that the student should ascertain whether the particular postsecondary institution that the student desires to attend will accept the transfer of coursework credits under this section.

(8)  The state board of education and state department of education may take such actions as are necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including:

(a)  The promulgation of any necessary rules; and

(b)  Delegation of duties under this section to a third party, provided that any contracts entered into with a third party shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 92, title 67, Idaho Code.

History:

[33-4603, added 2021, ch. 259, sec. 1, p. 799; am. 2024, ch. 139, sec. 2, p. 543; am. 2025, ch. 139, sec. 2, p. 709.]