Budget-setting lawmakers are raising “questions and concerns” about state funding for the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA), the online learning platform, which could lead to policy changes in 2026.

IDLA offers school districts and charter schools virtual courses to supplement their curriculum, often filling gaps in traditional school offerings, particularly in rural stretches of Idaho. Last fall, 28,953 students were enrolled in one or more IDLA courses. State funding covers most — but not all — of the costs to operate the platform and pay its teachers.

IDLA has flown under the Legislature’s radar since it was founded in 2002. But a surging state budget — up 158% since an enrollment spike during the COVID-19 pandemic — has prompted increasing scrutiny over its funding model and r

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