Idaho Virtual Academy loses special ed funding

The state’s oldest and largest online charter school has lost federal funding for its special education programs following a two-year review by the Idaho Department of Education.

The Idaho Virtual Academy returned more than $56,000 in federal funding and won’t receive any more federal funds for special education until the school comes into compliance with federal laws, according to the department.

The state said that the Idaho Virtual Academy wasn’t providing services to some students who were eligible and that ineligible students were receiving services they weren’t entitled to.

David Myers, chairman of the school board, said it boils down to paperwork problems. He said some services weren’t properly documented, but the school’s board of directors is working to fix those problems. A new special education director has been hired to help.

Myers is also the parent of a special education student attending the virtual school.

“Our experience has been better than any place we’ve been,” he said.

More than 1,700 students attended the online public school last year and about a quarter of those students live in North Idaho. Students enrolled in the Idaho Virtual Academy are supplied with a computer, printer and other supplies. Lessons are delivered through an Internet connection the school provides.

Though students learn from home, they travel to proctored settings to take state-required tests and teachers are available for home visits or to answer parents’ questions.

Cody Claver, head of school for the Idaho Virtual Academy, said the school is trying to work with the State Department of Education to understand ways it can fulfill the face-to-face requirements.

“Because we’re virtual, I know that we’re breaking new ground,” Claver said.

He said one option the school is exploring is whether Web conferencing would be a viable alternative to teachers and students meeting in person.

With students spread throughout the state, some in remote areas, and parents having to provide transportation, Myers said some students don’t always get to their scheduled therapies or meetings with teachers.

Though the state has found fault with the school’s special education program, Claver said parental satisfaction is near 90 percent.

Claver said one of the school’s problems was in documenting the service that was provided.

He said the school also had teachers meeting with small groups of students instead of individuals, which “did not suffice from the state’s perspective.”

As for the finding that the school had provided services to ineligible students, Claver said he doesn’t consider that a bad thing.

“If we made a mistake, we made a mistake of giving too many kids too much attention,” he said.

“By the limits of the law it may not be correct, but when you look at it from a moral standpoint, we overservice kids.”

Though the school has its own board of directors, the Charter School Commission provides oversight at the state level similar to how a school district would oversee its schools.

Even as the State Department of Education and Idaho Virtual Academy were debating the department’s findings, the state commission gave the school approval to expand to the ninth grade.

Claver said the loss of funding has forced the school to adjust its budget and cut back in other areas so that special education students can still be served.

“Anytime you give back money that’s not good,” Claver said. “That ultimately hurts kids. We knew there were some gaps and holes and we’ve paid the penalty for it and are moving forward.”

The state said the funds the Idaho Virtual Academy gave back will be divided among other Idaho school districts.