One Idaho virtual school received $10.2 million in invoices from K12, the private company that provides the majority of the school’s services.
That’s just one little-known fact revealed by an EdNews survey sent out to all 32 of Idaho’s virtual schools to discover what online platform they use, how much it costs, and whether or not they reimburse families directly for educational expenses. The survey included both charter schools and virtual schools located in traditional public school districts.
Lawmakers in Boise are looking at virtual schools this legislative session, especially the Idaho Home Learning Academy, which sent $20.6 million to a trio of private education vendors, according to a report released this fall.
Those vendors then sent $12.6 million on to families as “supplemental learning funds.” IHLA is the largest school shifting funds to private companies and providing supplemental learning funds, but far from the only one.
Under proposed laws currently being discussed at the Statehouse, supplemental learning funds would be restricted and private vendors – known as education service providers – would have to disclose the services they provide, and their costs, in writing.
Private companies receive millions in public funds
Of the 32 virtual schools in Idaho, leaders from 27 schools responded to EdNews’ questions.
The most expensive virtual program was K12, which is used by Idaho Virtual Academy, Insight School of Idaho (alternative school) and Idaho Technical Career Academy.
When school officials were asked about the virtual program and cost, EdNews received a response from Cameron Bell, a public relations manager for K12 out of Colorado.
Bell told EdNews it would need to file a public records request to obtain the contract and cost.
Idaho Virtual Academy, which served just over 1,700 students last year, does not have a public records request form on their website, Kelly Edginton, executive director, acknowledged. Edington pointed EdNews to the K12 general service agreement, but not a specific annual contract or cost.
It was only after a second records request that Edington provided a list of invoices sent to Idaho Virtual Academy from K12 for the 2025 fiscal year totaling more than $10.2 million.
Idaho Virtual Academy operates Insight School of Idaho as its alternative school.
The response from Idaho Technical Career Academy was similar. The school, which serves just over 200 students, received $770,889 in invoices from K12.
Other high-cost programs include Inspire Connections Academy and Empower Connections Academy, the associated alternative school, expect to spend $928,000 on Pearson Online Classroom this year for about 1,500 students.
Kootenai Bridge uses a similar tool, Connexus by Pearson, for a total of $30,256 per year for about 320 students.
Idaho Connects Online uses Imagine learning for $80,400 a year to serve about 260 students.
Six virtual schools located in traditional school districts use Overture, an Idaho- based company at $2,500 per student. Families that use Overture are eligible for up to $1,800 to purchase supplemental learning materials.
Other schools largely write their own curricula, like Richard McKenna Charter Online, Boise’s Online Elementary and Secondary, and Hagerman Virtual School.
Learn more about virtual schools in Idaho here.
Reimbursements
Nine of the 27 schools that responded to the survey offer some kind of reimbursement to families for costs related to virtual learning.
The reimbursements range from $30 monthly for internet from iSucceed Virtual High School to $1,800 from Overture schools and IHLA.
Those “supplemental learning” funds were largely used for computers and other technology at IHLA, but some funds went to things like streaming services and gardening supplies.
Overture provides funds under a similar model. Overture contracts with Bear Lake, Snake River , Bonneville , Sugar-Salem, Boundary County School, and Avery school districts.
Kootenai Bridge, for example, reimburses students for career technical courses that the school doesn’t offer. Gem Prep Online gives families up to $700 per year for courses like art, physical education, and music that aren’t offered at the virtual school.
