BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho State Board of Education approved an initial implementation plan to expand online postsecondary education. The plan applies to Idaho residents, regardless of where they live.
The first phase of the three-year "Idaho Online" plan will be funded by $4 million in federal coronavirus relief funds. The funds were approved in June by Governor Little's Coronavirus Financial Advisory Commission.
Idaho Only will use courses, degrees, services and resources already available at the eight higher education institutions and consolidate them into a single digital campus. The campus will offer career technical and academic programs, making them accessible wherever the student is.
“We want to make sure Idaho Online augments our higher education institutions,” Board Member Andy Scoggin said. “We don’t want to recreate our institutions online. We want this to compliment what the institutions are already doing and to make Idaho Online affordable, fast and easy for people to use.”
The online plan is modeled after digital campuses in Texas, Florida, Georgia and New York. In late fall, Idaho students should be able to access courses made available through Idaho Online in time for the spring 2021 semester.
