Idaho House votes to create online course list

BOISE — Lawmakers in the Idaho House have voted to provide students a repository of online courses to choose from when fulfilling their new graduation requirement. Republican Rep. Linden Bateman told lawmakers before Monday’s vote that the legislation allows the state Department of Education to spend up to $500,000 to create the course clearinghouse online. The money would come from technology funding set aside in the public schools budget under reforms approved in 2011. Idaho is requiring high school students to take at least two credits online as part of the education changes. A task force created to help implement the reforms has recommended schools be provided with a list of online course providers approved and contracted by the state. The bill creating that online course clearinghouse now heads to the Senate.