Status & interest
When will Idahome Academy open?
The school is planning to open for the 2027–28 school year, pending approval by the Idaho Public Charter School Commission and the necessary implementation steps.
Is the school open for enrollment?
Not yet. Idahome Academy is proposed and pending charter approval. Families can join the nonbinding interest list to receive updates.
How can we express interest?
A parent or guardian can join the free, nonbinding interest list. It is not an enrollment application and does not guarantee a place in the school.
Is Idahome Academy a homeschool program?
No. It is a proposed public charter school delivered primarily through virtual instruction. Certified teachers will be responsible for instruction; families will be Learning Partners.
What will Idahome Academy cost? Is there tuition?
Idahome Academy is proposed as a tuition-free Idaho public charter school. If approved, families will not pay tuition to attend. Families may have ordinary household expenses associated with learning at home, such as existing internet service and basic personal supplies. Before enrollment opens, we will explain what learning materials and technology the school will provide and whether any optional activities have associated expenses. Joining the interest list is free and non-binding.
Is Idahome Academy the same as Idaho Home Learning Academy?
No. Idahome Academy is an independent proposed public charter school operated by the nonprofit Idahome Academy, Inc. It is not affiliated with Idaho Home Learning Academy.
Is Idahome Academy accredited?
Not yet. Idaho public schools serving grades 9–12 must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the State Board of Education. The proposed school intends to pursue that accreditation through the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), part of Cognia, and plans to present a formal implementation proposal to the Board in November 2026. Our website will be updated as steps are authorized and confirmed.
Academics & schedule
Will my child just watch videos all day?
No. Flexible online lessons are one part of the program. Teachers will also provide live instruction, feedback, Advisory, help hours and projects that can involve offline work.
Does every course have required live meetings?
No. Requirements differ by grade. High school core English, math, science and social studies courses have weekly live sessions when enrolled; electives and other courses may offer optional sessions as needed.
Will we have to be online at fixed times every day?
Most lessons are designed for flexible completion. Scheduled academic live sessions and Advisory have grade-appropriate requirements. Teachers also offer optional help times and may arrange additional support.
How much required live academic instruction is planned?
K–2: 20–30 minutes total weekly, at least 20 reading. Grades 3–5: 30–40 total weekly, at least 20 reading. Grades 6–8: one 20–30-minute live grade-level meeting each week focused on English, math OR science according to need. Grades 9–12: 20–30 minutes in EACH enrolled core English, math, science and social studies course. These are routine scheduled lessons; students may receive additional live intervention and required services.
What is Advisory?
A required, live small-group experience for belonging, academic goals, student responsibility, peer connection and The Idahome Six. The normal range is 35–45 minutes weekly for K–5 and 50–60 minutes for grades 6–12, in one or two meetings, first held Monday or Tuesday (or the first instructional day of a shortened week). Administration may approve and document temporary adjustments for testing, shortened weeks or similar justified circumstances.
What happens on Fridays?
Friday remains a student instructional day focused on teacher-directed asynchronous lessons, practice, projects, assessment, revisions and catch-up. There is no routine schoolwide mandatory Friday live class; individualized arrangements may still occur.
How will the Pledge and moment of silence work on online school days?
The school plans a brief staff-prepared daily opening in its learning platform when students are not starting with a live teacher-led opening. Grades 1–12 will be offered the Pledge; no student will be compelled to recite it. All grades will have a neutral period of at least 60 seconds of silence. Teachers will also provide the observances at the beginning of live Advisory meetings and school assemblies.
What if my student misses a required live lesson?
The teacher will assign an authorized learning makeup appropriate to the missed objective, ordinarily completed within two school days after the student receives it. This could include a recording plus a knowledge check, an equivalent task or a brief teacher follow-up. A recording alone may not substitute for required discussion or individualized services. Appropriate extensions and accommodations apply.
Will attendance at a video meeting determine my student’s grade?
No. The school expects participation in required learning experiences, but academic grades reflect demonstrated standards-based learning. Teachers may use clear participation rubrics assessing understanding, reasoning, engagement and follow-through or approved equivalent work. Camera status and login time alone are not course grades.
What if my child struggles?
Teachers will monitor progress, provide feedback, offer virtual daily labs and initiate additional support rather than expecting families to solve every problem alone.
How will the school serve students with IEPs or Section 504 plans?
If charter authorization is granted, Idahome Academy will serve eligible students with disabilities through the applicable special-education and Section 504 processes. Qualified personnel will coordinate individualized instruction, related services, accommodations, accessible materials and progress monitoring according to student needs. Virtual delivery will not shift instructional or legally required service responsibilities to families.
When are teachers available live?
Monday through Thursday are the principal live-instruction days. Each full-time teacher will post a separate one-hour virtual daily lab each of those days, in addition to required academic lessons and Advisory. Students may use as much of a lab as they need; assigned interventions and legally required services remain separate.
How will reading support work in K–5?
All K–5 students will receive appropriate literacy screening; K–3 students participate in the state-required Idaho Reading Indicator. Teachers use results to plan goals, differentiate instruction, monitor progress and add small-group or individual support where needed. Students are not limited to baseline scheduled live minutes when more reading instruction is needed.
How will the school help middle-school students prepare for high school?
Grades 6–8 students receive early check-ins and targeted math/English language arts support when needed. Before grade 9, the school reviews readiness and can develop a personalized success plan. The review guides support; it is not an additional condition for promotion or enrollment.
Do we need a garden or special equipment?
No. Real-world projects offer accessible alternatives and do not require acreage, family-business access or purchases.
Belonging & clubs
Will students meet other kids?
Yes. Live classes and Advisory intentionally include student-to-student interaction. Clubs and student leadership provide additional optional opportunities.
How will students build community in a virtual school?
Students will have a stable live Advisory group, opportunities to work with peers, planned supervised clubs and student leadership options. The school also plans an every-other-week staff-hosted Eagles Update featuring announcements, recognition and student contributions. Participation in that school-news program will not be an added required academic class.
Learning Partners
Will parents be expected to teach?
No. Parents and guardians are Learning Partners who support routines and communication. Certified teachers will lead instruction and evaluate learning.
How quickly will the school answer my message?
Incoming student and family messages through approved channels will be acknowledged, answered or actively routed within 24 counted weekday hours, Monday–Friday, excluding weekends, published school holidays and official closures. “Counted weekday hours” means the clock runs only on school weekdays: a message sent Friday at 3:00 p.m. gets a reply or a clear next step by 3:00 p.m. Monday (or Tuesday, if Monday is a school holiday). Some issues require additional investigation; routine grading or substantive feedback is ordinarily provided within one to three school days.
Devices & connectivity
Will students receive a computer or help with internet access?
The proposed school plans student technology and need-based connectivity support, but assistance depends on student circumstances, policy, available resources and applicable requirements. Families may request help when a barrier prevents required coursework. When available and appropriate, the school may temporarily loan a school-owned cellular hotspot or portable satellite kit while an individualized access review proceeds. Loaned equipment remains school property and must be returned; a loan is not a permanent internet subsidy and is never a condition of admission. No universal stipend, device distribution or particular vendor is guaranteed before final implementation.
AI & privacy
How do you handle AI-generated answers?
Teachers will set clear rules. Some work is independent, some permits guided AI support, and some asks students to critique AI. Students must demonstrate their own thinking.
College & career (proposed)
Is Idahome Academy college-preparatory or practical-life focused?
Both. The planned program emphasizes Idaho standards, academic proficiency, advanced learning and postsecondary readiness. The Idahome Six helps students apply what they learn to character, self-directed learning, work and wealth, food and self-reliance, physical capability and responsible technology use. Proposed NCAA, CTE and accreditation pathways remain subject to their separate processes.
Will Idahome Academy offer NCAA-approved courses?
The school intends to pursue NCAA Eligibility Center high-school review and submit appropriate core courses. No course should be described as NCAA-approved until the NCAA has completed its review and included that course on the school’s approved list. Individual student eligibility is never automatic.
Will CTE courses or industry credentials be available?
The school intends to seek Idaho approval for an opening-year Business/Marketing CTE cluster and evaluate courses in business, accounting, marketing and computer applications. More specific pathways and Microsoft Office Specialist certification preparation depend on the applicable approvals, staffing, demand and resources. A physical CTE laboratory would be a separate conditional possibility no earlier than Year 4.
Optional future in-person opportunities
Are in-person activities required?
The core program is virtual. Optional gatherings may be available. Any future hybrid CTE laboratory would be a conditional later addition, not an opening requirement.