House Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, told legislative budget writers this morning that his committee "supports the tenets of Supt. Luna's budget" for public schools, including fully funding the "Students Come First" reforms. "Students Come First is the law of the land," he said.

Nonini said there's been some concern about funding for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, the state-run provider of online courses for high schools across the state. "IDLA has been the largest provider in the state and has done quite a good job with that," Nonini said. "I think where the concern comes, as more online providers are out there in the marketplace, there's a thought that IDLA maybe should try to sharpen their pencil a little bit and be more competitive." He said House leaders and others are working on that "but it's still a moving target," as of a 7:30 a.m. meeting he attended this morning.

Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, told Nonini that a working group including Nonini's vice-chair, Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, and JFAC members has been working on a proposal for IDLA funding. That group most recently recommended funding for next year at $5 million, he said; it's been at $6 million; the idea is "to allow some transition because the other carriers were not equipped" to start up, he said. Nonini said, "It was the first, solid, good online provider. ... But I think as we move forward and watch what we do with our revenues, the concern is ... maybe we should have some going into stabilization accounts. ... I think my committee will probably be working on some legislation that will address the IDLA issue." He added, "We all agree that IDLA needs to sharpen their pencil and that that safety net won't be there."