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Idaho Homeschool Funding

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Last updated: October 8, 2025

Idaho Homeschool Funding

Current funding landscape, dual-enrollment options, and where micro-grants fit.

ID
Funding guide
State programs

Main program

Program name: No statewide ESA for independent homeschool

Admin: Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) & local districts (homeschool law, dual-enrollment). Micro-grants, when funded, are administered by the Idaho Office of the State Board of Education.

Typical award

Amount: No standing stipend for independent homeschool. When appropriated, Empowering Parents micro-grants have historically been up to ≈$1,000 per student / $3,000 per family.

Disbursement: Micro-grant marketplace/portal to approved vendors; otherwise, no reimbursement for independent homeschool.

Who qualifies

  • Residency: Student resides in Idaho.
  • Age/grade: Parent provides a comparable education to satisfy compulsory attendance.
  • Micro-grants: When funded, eligibility and priority tiers (often income-based) are set annually by the State Board; homeschool and private-school families have been eligible in past rounds.

Timeline

  • Homeschool: Parent may begin any time (no statewide notice).
  • Dual-enrollment: Follow local district/charter calendars.
  • Micro-grants: Application windows announced by the State Board when funds are appropriated.

Overview

Idaho is a high-freedom homeschool state: there is no statewide ESA, voucher, or reimbursement for independent homeschool, and families choose and fund their own curriculum. The state does provide robust dual-enrollment access to public-school courses and activities, and has periodically offered Empowering Parents micro-grants (subject to legislative funding). Students who enroll with a district/charter (even part-time) may also use the state’s Advanced Opportunities program for dual credit, exams, CTE, and more.

Programs

Independent Home Education (no standing state funds)

  • Type: Parent-directed homeschool that satisfies compulsory attendance.
  • Award: None (no ESA/stipend).
  • Uses: Parent selects curriculum, pacing, assessments; maintains records.
  • Admin: Idaho SDE provides general information; compliance is primarily parent-managed under state law.

Idaho SDE — Home education info

Dual-Enrollment & Part-Time Attendance

  • Type: Take one or more public-school classes while remaining homeschooled; participate in extracurriculars/activities.
  • Award: No cash to family; district receives funding for the portion of attendance and provides the course/activities.
  • Uses: Access labs, foreign language, CTE, sports, music, clubs; potential access to district-provided tests.
  • Admin: Local school districts/charters (policies, schedules, seat availability).

SDE Student Resources & Advanced Opportunities overview

Tip: Dual-enrolled high-schoolers may also access Advanced Opportunities funding through their public school.

Advanced Opportunities (for students enrolled with districts/charters)

  • Type: State program for Idaho public-school students (grades 7–12) to fund dual credit, exams, and more.
  • Award: Allocation managed by the school for eligible costs.
  • Admin: Idaho SDE; request through your school counselor.

Advanced Opportunities (official portal)

Empowering Parents Micro-Grants (status varies by year)

  • Type: State micro-grant (when funded) for educational purchases via an online marketplace.
  • Award: Historically up to ≈$1,000 per student / $3,000 per family; income-based priority tiers.
  • Admin: Idaho Office of the State Board of Education.

2025–26: The program was eliminated for the 2025–26 school year; previously awarded funds remain available for up to three years from the award date. Future availability depends on new appropriations.

Empowering Parents — official site

Public Online & Charter Options (home-based public school)

  • Type: Enroll in an Idaho online/charter public school; not legally “homeschool.”
  • Award: No cash; school provides curriculum/teachers/devices per its policies.
  • Uses: Full-time public education delivered at home.
  • Admin: Individual districts/charters.

Eligibility

  • Residency: Idaho residency for all state-run programs.
  • Homeschool: Parent provides a “comparable education” to that provided in public schools; no statewide registration.
  • Dual-enrollment: Coordinate with your resident district/charter; meet course/activity prerequisites and deadlines.
  • Micro-grants: When offered, eligibility is set each year by the State Board (historically prioritized lower-income households).

How to apply

  1. Independent homeschool: Choose curriculum, map your plan, and maintain records (no statewide notice required).
  2. Dual-enrollment: Contact your resident school’s counselor/registrar; request courses or activities; complete district forms.
  3. Advanced Opportunities: If enrolled with a district/charter, initiate requests through your school per AO rules.
  4. Micro-grants (when open): Create an account in the State Board’s portal, verify identity/residency, add students, and request approved purchases.

Open Advanced Opportunities

Check micro-grant status here: Empowering Parents (official)

Covered expenses

  • Curriculum & textbooks
  • Online courses & software
  • Tutoring / instruction
  • Special-needs services (provider rules apply)
  • Standardized tests & exam fees
  • Supplies & hands-on materials
  • Educational field trips
  • Technology & accessories
  • CTE/dual-credit costs (often via district if dual-enrolled)
  • Micro-grant purchases must be on the program’s approved list when funding is active.

Independent homeschool has no standing state reimbursement; families pay out-of-pocket unless using a funded micro-grant or district program.

Deadlines

MilestoneDateNotes
Dual-enrollment course requests Spring/Summer for fall; Dec/Jan for spring District calendars vary; ask your school counselor
Activities/athletics eligibility Pre-season Local paperwork and eligibility rules apply
Empowering Parents micro-grants Announced by State Board Open only if funded for the school year

Docs & forms

Official sources

FAQs

Does Idaho fund independent homeschool?
No ongoing ESA or reimbursement. The state has offered Empowering Parents micro-grants in some years; check the State Board site for current status.
Can homeschoolers join public-school classes or sports?
Yes—Idaho’s dual-enrollment framework lets nonpublic students request courses and activities at their resident district/charter (space and eligibility permitting). Deadlines and paperwork apply.
Can my high-schooler get help paying for dual credit or exams?
Often yes if the student is enrolled with a district/charter (even part-time) and uses that school’s Advanced Opportunities process. Fully independent homeschoolers generally aren’t funded unless a state micro-grant is open.

Contacts

Idaho State Department of Education

sde.idaho.gov
Use the site directory to find your local district and program contacts.

Office of the State Board of Education

boardofed.idaho.gov
Micro-grant program updates & announcements.

Law & regulations

  • Compulsory attendance satisfied by public, private, or home education (see SDE guidance and State Board resources).
  • Dual-enrollment access is provided through district/charter policies; contact your resident school for details.
  • Advanced Opportunities is available to Idaho public-school students (grades 7–12) via their school.