IDLA would get one-time funding ‘bridge’

In the division of the public school budget dubbed “children’s programs,” JFAC has set a budget that includes one-time funding for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy for next year of $4 million, in addition to the $1.1 million IDLA would get under a funding formula; that’s down from the $6 million it gets now. At the same time, the budget plan shifts $4.4 million from the Idaho Safe and Drug-Free Schools program to discretionary funds.

Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, said, “IDLA needs to start standing on its own, and this is kind of a bridge to that. That’s why it’s one-time money and not using ongoing funds.” The division budget passed on a 16-4 party-line vote.