Idaho Home Learning Academy Reviews: A Comprehensive Overview
Idaho Home Learning Academy (IHLA) is a publicly-funded online charter school serving students in grades Prekindergarten through 12. With a significant enrollment of 7,751 students, IHLA's student population has grown by 400% over five school years. This article will delve into various aspects of IHLA, including its academic performance, student demographics, parent reviews, and the controversies surrounding its partnerships with third-party educational service providers.
Key Statistics and Demographics
IHLA's student-teacher ratio is 24:1. Minority enrollment constitutes 17% of the student body, with the majority being Hispanic, which is lower than the Idaho state average of 27%. The graduation rate is between 80-84%, placing it in the top 50% of Idaho schools. However, overall testing ranks are in the bottom 50%.
Academic proficiency rates are as follows:
- Math: 22% (Bottom 50%)
- Reading: 48% (Bottom 50%)
- Science: 41% (Bottom 50%)
Academic Performance and Rankings
Idaho Home Learning Academy ranks within the bottom 50% of all 704 schools in Idaho, based on combined math and reading proficiency testing data. Academic records show that 30% of students achieve proficiency in math, and 48% are proficient in reading. These statistics indicate a need for improvement in academic outcomes compared to the state average.
Parent and Student Perspectives
One parent, Jessica Turnblom, whose children are enrolled in IHLA appreciates the school's flexibility and the ability to tailor the curriculum to her children's needs. She uses HomeEd 360, where they are assigned a teacher for their family. Turnblom also utilizes Education Savings Account (ESA) funds for her oldest son to participate in extracurricular activities like the Boise Zoo Homeschool Zoo program. She emphasizes that IHLA offers a valuable alternative for students who may not thrive in traditional brick-and-mortar schools.
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However, some parents have expressed concerns about the program's organization and misinformation. One review mentioned being "just given terrible misinformation and forced to withdraw my kids over mistakes an employee made," expressing extreme disappointment in the "educational program."
On the other hand, some students appreciate the ability to learn at their own pace. One student commented, "I love being able to learn at my own pace without a timer. I am able to learn my subjects by my own speed. If I get a bad grade my teachers always comment on why I got that grade and how I can improve it."
Educational Approach and Curriculum
IHLA provides parents the freedom to select the curriculum that works best for their family, including electives like art, language, sports, and music. There is accountability to make progress and ensure students are following learning goals for their grade in each course. Parents play a crucial role in their children's education, acting as "learning coaches" and spending 20 to 30 hours each week guiding their learning.
Partnerships with Third-Party Companies
IHLA partners with third-party companies like Harmony Education Services, Home Ed 360, and Tech Trep Academy to deliver educational services. These partnerships have been a point of legislative scrutiny, with concerns raised about the lack of direct instruction from teachers and the oversight of online education programs by for-profit companies.
Oneida School District partnered with Harmony Education Services in 2016. Bonneville and West Ada contracted with the company in 2013. Both partnerships were short-lived before the districts cut ties with Harmony, and scaled back their online offerings to just local students, rather than statewide. In 2017-18, Oneida started partnering with Tech Trep Academy, which partners with districts in a half dozen states. Multiple districts have cut ties, including Utah’s Tooele School District.
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These partners provide parents with communications, curriculum choices, and supplemental learning funds. They also oversee state testing support and assist parents with troubleshooting.
Special Education Services
A state investigation revealed shortcomings in IHLA's special education services. The report found that parents were overly burdened with responsibilities that should be handled by the district, such as implementing IEPs and taking progress monitoring data. The investigator found that at IHLA, where everyone learns separately and at home, “there’s no spectrum of placements.” Special education teachers were not consistently available for IHLA students, because they follow Oneida’s in-person calendar rather than the online calendar. The systemic investigation was one of three that focused on the district last year.
Financial Aspects
The Oneida School District's adoption of an online school has led to a significant increase in enrollment and funding. The district’s unprecedented student growth has led to an influx of cash to the district which now has a budget of about $49 million (up from just $5.2 million in 2016). While online students have fueled Oneida’s financial growth, in-person students stand to reap a major benefit. The additional funding, paired with a $29 million bond passed last March, has helped fund a new elementary school at the district.
Criticisms and Controversies
IHLA has faced criticism regarding its partnerships with for-profit companies, the quality of its special education services, and concerns about the lack of direct instruction from teachers. The rapid growth of the school has also raised questions about oversight and accountability.
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