What Idaho Digital Learning Alliance does

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) is a state-sponsored virtual school created by the Idaho Legislature in 2002 to provide supplemental K-12 online education across Idaho. The organization operates as a government state entity headquartered in Boise, with 251-500 employees, delivering asynchronous online courses through the Agilix Buzz learning management system to students enrolled in Idaho public schools. IDLA serves approximately 28,593 students annually — roughly 9% of Idaho's public school student population — through nearly every school district and charter school in the state, with particular penetration in rural districts that lack specialized course offerings due to teacher shortages and geographic isolation.

IDLA's product portfolio comprises three core course formats: 16-week Cohort Courses scheduled to traditional calendars, 9-week Credit Recovery Courses priced at $40 per course, and self-paced Flex Courses with open enrollment. The curriculum catalog exceeds 350 in-house developed courses aligned with Idaho Core Content Standards, with 40 courses achieving Quality Matters certification. Beyond core curriculum, IDLA operates a Dual Credit Program in partnership with seven Idaho institutions (Boise State University, University of Idaho, College of Western Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, College of Eastern Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College, and Northwest Nazarene University) and structured Program Pathways leading to industry certifications in fields such as Nursing Assistant, Web Development, and Cybersecurity. Recent product launches include the BusyBee AI learning companion (built by Agilix Labs) and an LMS platform migration, with the IDLA Parent App providing real-time progress visibility.

IDLA's revenue model is overwhelmingly state-appropriated, receiving approximately $26 million annually from the Idaho Legislature, supplemented by $40 per-credit-recovery course, $75 per dual credit college credit (often covered by Advanced Opportunities state funds), and incidental fees. Distribution occurs exclusively through Idaho public school districts and charter schools via site coordinators and counselors — students do not enroll directly. As of early 2026, IDLA faces an existential funding threat: Governor Brad Little's proposed 39-52% FY2027 budget cut (approximately $13.5 million reduction) would force the organization to halve course enrollments, with more than 70% of surveyed parents indicating they would disenroll their children if funding ends.

Name

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance

Legal name

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance

Website

https://idla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance is a state-sponsored virtual school created by the Idaho Legislature in 2002, delivering supplemental K-12 online courses, dual credit, and credit recovery to approximately 28,593 students across nearly all Idaho public school districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Legislative Funding: IDLA is primarily funded by appropriations from the Idaho State Legislature. The organization was created by the Legislature in 2002 to provide choice, accessibility, flexibility, quality and equity in curricular offerings for Idaho students. Current funding is approximately $26 million annually from state sources.
2. Credit Recovery Course Fees: Credit recovery courses are priced at $40 per course, which districts pay for students needing to retake classes or at risk of not graduating. These fees represent supplemental revenue beyond state funding.
3. Dual Credit Course Fees: Dual credit courses through GEM Pathway cost $75 per college credit. Students may use Advanced Opportunities (Fast Forward) state funds to cover costs. Additional fees may apply for labs, books, supplies, and non-course related fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) is a state-sponsored online learning platform that delivers supplemental K-12 courses to Idaho students through partnerships with local school districts and charter schools. It offers three core course formats—Cohort Courses, Flex Courses, and Credit Recovery Courses—plus a Dual Credit Program with seven Idaho colleges and universities, all taught by Idaho-certified teachers and delivered via the Agilix Buzz LMS with mobile apps and AI-powered learning support.

Product overview

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) is the state-sponsored online learning platform created by the Idaho Legislature in 2002, offering supplemental K-12 online education to all students enrolled through Idaho public schools. The platform operates on a multi-format model comprising three core asynchronous course types: Cohort Courses (16-week scheduled delivery), Credit Recovery Courses (8-9 week accelerated format at $40 per course), and Flex Courses (open enrollment with self-paced scheduling). IDLA provides access to hundreds of courses across core curriculum, CTE, electives, Dual Credit, and Advanced Placement. The Dual Credit Program partners with seven Idaho colleges and universities (Boise State University, College of Eastern Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College, Northwest Nazarene University, and University of Idaho) to allow students to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously. IDLA Program Pathways extend this through structured sequences toward industry certificates or associate degrees, including the GEM Pathway (General Education Matriculation) through CEI offering 33 transferable college credits, Nursing Assistant and Web Development pathways through LCSC, and Cybersecurity pathway through CSI. The platform maintains its own Content Development Team building curriculum in-house aligned to Idaho standards, with 40 courses currently Quality Matters certified and national AccredVEd accreditation. Supporting infrastructure includes the IDLA Portal App (iOS/Android) for parent engagement, Site Coordinator Network for local student support, annual Summer Conference for professional development, and Everyone Can Create Camp for hands-on learning at McCall Outdoor Science School. State funding comes through the Idaho legislature with approximately $26 million annual allocation, supplemented by Advanced Opportunities grants ($4,125 per student) for dual credit costs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cohort Courses 16-week asynchronous online courses delivered on two schedules following traditional school calendars, allowing students to progress through course material with other students and access content anytime with internet access.
• Credit Recovery Courses Scaffolded online credit recovery courses for students who need to retake classes or are at risk of not graduating, priced at $40 per course with a 9-week format and certified IDLA teacher support.
• Flex Courses Open-enrollment courses delivered on a flexible schedule driven by student needs, allowing students to work at their own speed and exempt content by passing unit pre-tests; NCAA-approved.
• Dual Credit Program Partnership program allowing students to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously through seven Idaho colleges and universities including Boise State University, University of Idaho, and Lewis-Clark State College.
• Course Catalog Online catalog of hundreds of courses from Kindergarten through high school/college Dual Credit including core curriculum, electives, Career Technical Education, Dual Credit, and Advanced Placement courses.
• Personal Finance Course Idaho graduation requirement course teaching students about earning income, budgeting, saving, credit, and debt, with practical budgeting and real-life expense planning exercises.
• Digital Literacy Course Idaho graduation requirement course covering hardware and software basics, artificial intelligence concepts, cybersecurity, ethical technology use, protecting personal data, recognizing misinformation, and digital citizenship.
• Wilderness & Survival Skills Course Course teaching essential outdoor skills including shelter-building, finding food and water, wilderness first aid, navigation using maps and compasses, foraging, hunting, fishing, and trapping.
• Beginning Ukulele Course Music course for absolute beginners teaching proper ukulele holding, tuning, basic strumming patterns, tablature and chord charts, foundational chords, composition, and class collaboration.
• Officiating Youth Sports Course Course designed to address Idaho's growing high school sports referee shortage by preparing students to become youth sports officials through online instruction.
• GEM Pathway (General Education Matriculation) Partnership with College of Eastern Idaho offering transferable general education courses accepted across all Idaho state institutions, allowing students to complete the equivalent of their freshman year of college with 33 college credits.
• IDLA Program Pathways Structured course sequences aligned with Idaho college or university programs allowing students to earn credits toward an industry certificate or associate degree before high school graduation, including Nursing Assistant, Web Development, and Cybersecurity pathways.
• Everyone Can Create Camp Five-day summer camp held at the McCall Outdoor Science School on the shores of Payette Lake where students apply skills from the Everyone Can Create with iPads course to outdoor activities through multimedia projects in nature.
• IDLA Portal App Mobile application available on iOS and Android providing parents with real-time data about student progress, opportunities for improvement, and tips on supporting their child, with SSL/TLS encryption for data security.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of students enrolled in IDLA classes completed courses with a passing grade during 2024-2025 school year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Boise State UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual credit partnership allowing students to earn both high school and college credit through Boise State Concurrent Enrollment. Students in grades 10-12 with minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA can register. Courses are taught by IDLA instructors with Boise State oversight.
• University of IdahoflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual credit partnership providing college credit for IDLA courses through University of Idaho's Dual Enroll program. Students receive college credit applicable toward University of Idaho degrees and transferable across Idaho institutions.
• College of Western Idaho (CWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual credit partnership through CWI's DualEnroll system. Students must be 16+ or have completed half of graduation requirements with minimum 2.0 GPA.
• College of Southern IdahocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly College Program dual credit partnership. Recommended for sophomores or higher with 2.5+ GPA. Students can earn college credit while completing high school requirements.
• College of Eastern Idaho (CEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEM Pathway partnership offering General Education Matriculation courses accepted across all Idaho state institutions. Early College Program open to high school juniors and seniors with recommended 2.7 GPA.
• Lewis-Clark State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual credit partnership including IDLA Program Pathways for Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Web Development. Students can complete industry certificates or progress toward associate degrees.
• Northwest Nazarene UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcurrent credit partnership through NNU's Bridge Academy. Students can earn college credit for dual credit courses with registration through IDLA.
• McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Everyone Can Create Camp held annually at MOSS facility on shores of Payette Lake adjacent to Ponderosa State Park. Students apply technology skills learned in Everyone Can Create course to outdoor science activities.
• AppleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerApple's Community Education Initiative sponsors the Onramp program. Students in Everyone Can Create with iPads course are loaned iPads for camp and can attend the summer camp free of charge.
• Boise State University (Onramp Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnramp is a partnership between IDLA, Boise State University, and College of Western Idaho to bring high-quality computer science offerings to Idaho students through Apple's Community Education Initiative sponsorship.
• Agilix LabscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of the Agilix Buzz learning management system (LMS) used by IDLA. Also developed BusyBee AI-powered learning companion that provides tips, hints, and suggestions to scaffold and accelerate student learning.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stride (formerly K12 Inc.): Large publicly traded provider of online K-12 learning, tutoring, and dual-credit programs. Broad incumbent in the same K-12 online learning category as IDLA, competing for state supplemental course demand.
• Connections Academy (Stride): Operates tuition-free online public schools across multiple U.S. states under state contracts. Comparable to IDLA's public-school-affiliated online learning model at national scale.
• Calvert Learning (Pearson): Long-standing provider of K-12 online/blended curriculum and printed materials. Broad incumbent serving the same K-12 online curriculum market as IDLA.

Direct peers

• Michigan Virtual: Michigan's state-funded nonprofit virtual learning organization offering supplemental online courses, dual enrollment, and professional development. Direct functional peer to IDLA at the state supplemental-course level.
• Florida Virtual School (FLVS): State-sponsored virtual school created by the Florida Legislature. Most direct peer to IDLA: public, state-funded, statewide K-12 online course provider serving rural and district-referred students.

Others

• Edmentum: Provides K-12 online curriculum, credit recovery, and learning platforms used by many school districts and state virtual schools. Adjacent technology/curriculum supplier relevant to IDLA's course delivery and recovery model.
• Agilix Labs: Vendor providing the Agilix Buzz LMS and BusyBee AI learning companion that power IDLA's course delivery. Not a competitor but the platform infrastructure partner for IDLA's EdTech stack.

Regional players

• Lexington Law/BrightBytes (state-level data nonprofit): Comparable state-supported K-12 supplemental virtual course consortium serving a different U.S. region. Identifiable peers include state virtual academies such as Wisconsin eSchool Network and Colorado Digital Learning Solutions.
• Utah Education Network (UEN): Statewide K-12 online course and dual-credit provider serving Utah public schools, including rural districts. Serves a different state but a comparable statewide supplemental online learning role.

Emerging players

• Accelerate Education: Provides standards-aligned K-12 online courses, credit recovery, and dual enrollment used by districts. Emerging player overlapping with IDLA's course catalog and credit recovery offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IDigLearning
• Instagraminstagram.com/idiglearning
• Xx.com/IDigLearning

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Idaho Digital Learning Alliance