33-4602. ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES — RULEMAKING. (1) Students attending public schools in Idaho will be eligible for four thousand one hundred twenty-five dollars ($4,125) to use toward overload courses, dual credits, postsecondary credit-bearing examinations, career technical certificate examinations, and career technical education workforce training courses. Students may access these funds in grades 7 through 12 for:

(a) Overload courses, the distribution of which may not exceed two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225) per overload course. A student must take and successfully be completing a full credit load within a given school year to be eligible for funding of an overload course. An overload course must be taken for high school credit to be eligible for funding. To qualify as an eligible overload course for the program, the course must:

(i) Be offered by a provider accredited by the organization that accredits Idaho public schools; and

(ii) Be taught by an individual certified to teach the grade and subject area of the course in Idaho.

(b) Eligible dual credits, the distribution of which may not exceed seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per one (1) dual credit hour. Dual credit courses must be offered by a regionally accredited postsecondary institution. To qualify as an eligible dual credit course, the course must be a credit-bearing 100 level course or higher.

(c) Eligible postsecondary credit-bearing or career technical certificate examinations. The state department of education shall maintain a list of eligible exams and costs. Eligible examinations include:

(i) Advanced placement (AP);

(ii) International baccalaureate (IB);

(iii) College-level examination program (CLEP); and

(iv) Career technical education examinations that lead to an industry-recognized certificate, license, or degree.

(d) CTE workforce training courses, such as federally registered apprenticeships, the distribution of which may not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) per course and one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year. The state department of education shall collaborate with the division of career technical education to maintain a list of eligible training courses and costs. Eligible training courses must:

(i) Be provided by an Idaho public technical college;

(ii) Lead to an industry-recognized certificate, license, or degree;

(iii) Be required training for occupations deemed regionally in demand;

(iv) Be courses that are not otherwise available at the student’s high school; and

(v) Allow high school-aged students to participate.

(2) A student who has earned fifteen (15) postsecondary credits using the advanced opportunities program and who wishes to earn additional credits must first identify his postsecondary goals. Advisors shall counsel any student who wishes to take dual credit courses that the student should ascertain for himself whether the particular postsecondary institution that he desires to attend will accept the transfer of coursework credits under this section.

(3) These moneys may be used to pay an amount not to exceed the price to the student of such courses and examinations pursuant to the limitations stated in this section. These moneys shall not supplant existing program funds. Payments made under this section shall be made from the moneys appropriated for the educational support program. No later than January 15, the state department of education shall annually report to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives details regarding the number of students benefiting from assistance with the cost of overload courses, dual credit courses and examinations, the number of credits awarded and amounts paid pursuant to this section during the previous school year.

(4) The board of each public school may set forth criteria by which a student may challenge a course. If a student successfully meets the criteria set forth by the board of the public school, then the student shall be counted as having completed all required coursework for that course. The public school, with the exception of Idaho tribal schools, shall be funded for such students based upon either actual hours of attendance or the course that the student has successfully passed, whichever is more advantageous to the public school, up to the maximum of one (1) full-time student.

(5) Any student who successfully completes public school grades 1 through 12 curriculum at least one (1) year early shall be eligible for an advanced opportunities scholarship. The scholarship may be used for tuition and fees at any Idaho public postsecondary educational institution. The amount of the scholarship shall equal thirty-five percent (35%) of the statewide average daily attendance-driven funding per enrolled pupil for each year of grades 1 through 12 curriculum avoided by the student’s early graduation. Each public school shall receive an amount equal to each such awarded scholarship for each student that graduates early from that public school. Students must apply for the scholarship within two (2) years of graduating from a public school.

(6) The state department of education shall reimburse public schools or public postsecondary educational institutions, as applicable, for such costs, up to the stated limits, within one hundred twenty-five (125) days of receiving the necessary data upon which reimbursements may be paid. The submission method and timelines of reimbursement data shall be determined by the state department of education. Payments will be made only for activity occurring and reported within each fiscal year.

(7) For public funding purposes, average daily attendance shall be counted as normal for students participating in dual credit courses pursuant to this section.

(8) If a student fails to earn credit or successfully complete a course for which the department has paid a reimbursement, the student must pay for and successfully earn credit or complete one (1) like course before the state department of education may pay any further reimbursements for the student. If a student performs inadequately on an examination for which the state department of education has paid a reimbursement, the public school shall determine whether the student must pay for and successfully pass such examination to continue receiving state funding. Repeated and remedial courses or examinations are not eligible for funding through these programs.

(9) The state department of education shall reimburse community colleges or counties, as applicable, for any out-of-district county tuition pursuant to section 33-2110A, Idaho Code. Such reimbursements shall be in an amount not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per credit hour and only for dual credit courses taken pursuant to this section.

(10) Public schools shall establish timelines and requirements for participation in the program, including implementing procedures for the appropriate transcription of credits, reporting of program participation and financial transaction requirements. Public schools shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that any student who considers participating in the program also considers the challenges and time necessary to succeed in the program, and schools shall make reasonable efforts to include guidance on how the student’s participation in the program contributes to prospective college and career pathways. Such efforts by the district shall be performed prior to a student participating in the program and throughout the student’s involvement in the program.

(11) Policies and procedures for participating in the program established by the public school must be such that students have an opportunity to participate in the program and meet district-established timelines and requirements for financial transactions, transcribing credits and state department of education reporting. Participation in this program requires parent and student agreement to program requirements and completion of the state department of education’s participation form documenting the program requirements.

(12) Parents of participating students may enroll their child in any eligible course, with or without the permission of the public school in which the student is enrolled. Tribal school students must follow their schools’ enrollment policies and procedures. Public school personnel shall assist parents in the process of enrolling students in such courses. Each participating student’s high school transcript at the public school at which the student is enrolled shall include the credits earned and grades received by the student for any overload or dual credit courses taken pursuant to this section. For an eligible course to be transcribed as meeting the requirements of a core subject as identified in administrative rule, the course must meet the approved content standards for the applicable subject and grade level.

(13) Participating public schools shall collaborate with Idaho public postsecondary educational institutions to assist students who seek to participate in dual credit courses or graduate from high school early by enrolling in postsecondary courses. Participating school districts, charter schools and Idaho public postsecondary educational institutions shall report to the state board of education and the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives any difficulties or obstacles they experience in providing assistance to participating students.

(14) The state board of education may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

History:

[33-4602, added 2016, ch. 166, sec. 3, p. 451; am. 2018, ch. 100, sec. 2, p. 210; am. 2019, ch. 263, sec. 1, p. 773.]