New Study: Idaho Program Shows Promising Results for High School and Remote Learning

Thanks to “Advanced Opportunities,” more than half of Idaho high school seniors have taken courses for college credit

NEW YORK, NY – As the Covid-19 outbreak forces schools to rethink their approach to teaching and learning, an innovative program in Idaho may provide inspiration for those looking to reimagine their educational offerings. In a new Manhattan Institute issue brief, senior fellow Max Eden analyzes Idaho’s “Advanced Opportunities” initiative, a statewide bipartisan program that increases course offerings—including for remote, digital learners—and empowers students to customize their educations according to their future goals. 

Pioneered in the 2016-17 school year, Advanced Opportunities provides students with $4,125, which they may use as they see fit throughout their high school careers for dual enrollment courses, Advanced Placement (AP) exams, professional certification examinations, “overload” high school courses, and workforce development courses. While achievement growth for high school students in the rest of the country is languishing, Idaho’s emphasis on student choice has yielded positive results: more than half of Idaho’s high school seniors have already taken a course for college credit. 

For students in remote or rural environments, Advanced Opportunities has leveled the playing field. Idaho is now one of 15 states to offer a “course access” program, which leverages virtual learning to provide advanced coursework to students who may not otherwise have had access. As of February 2020, about 20 percent of rural students had availed themselves of at least one virtual course. Overall, the program’s success has allowed the state to increase the rigor of its educational offerings, enhance career readiness among students, and enrich its workforce.

Click here to read the full report.