The Idaho Digital Learning Alliance is expecting a 23% decline in course enrollments next school year due to state budget cuts. IDLA Superintendent Jeff Simmons shared this estimate during his annual report to the Idaho State Board of Education. Last school year, the platform had 56,695 course enrollments, but this number is expected to decrease to around 43,500.

Budget Cuts and Course Offerings

The state’s appropriation will cover about 32,000 course enrollments, and IDLA will tap into its reserve funds to soften the blow. However, the platform will have to narrow its course catalog and focus on courses that are graduation requirements or lead to certificates and degrees. House Bill 940, which was passed earlier this year, cut IDLA’s budget by $13.4 million and imposed new course fee requirements and restrictions on state reimbursements for certain students.

Dual credit enrollment is also down by about 50% during summer school. While state reimbursements for dual credit courses were preserved, IDLA must now collect a fee for these classes, ranging from $40 to $100. Previously, dual credit was free for many students, but now they must cover IDLA’s fee.

Comprehensive Literacy Plan Updates

The Idaho State Board of Education also approved updates to the state’s Comprehensive Literacy Plan, which sets a vision and goals for reading instruction across the state. The plan includes new research on the science of reading and tracks progress toward state goals. The updated plan also features case studies from schools that have seen significant growth in reading scores.

Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.