Advanced Opportunities
The Advanced Opportunities Program (AO Program) provides every 7–12th grade student attending an Idaho public school an allocation of $4,625 to use toward:
Top 4 Ways Advanced Opportunities Can Help You
Overload Courses
An overload course is a high school-level course taken in addition to the student’s regular school day and beyond the school’s full course load (6 credits per semester). These courses can be taken online, during the summer, and after school. The AO Program can pay up to $225 per overload course if costs are involved.
Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment courses are transcribed on both high school and college transcripts. The AO Program can pay up to $75 per credit. Funds will cover only the course fee. Any other expenses must be paid out of pocket (e.g., lab fees, books, part-time student fees). Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 2 credits per semester at their school to qualify for dual enrollment.
Exams
Students can use AO Program funds to pay for a variety of college-credit-bearing or professional-technical exams. These include Advanced Placement®(AP®), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), or Career Technical Education (CTE) exams.
Workforce Training Courses
Workforce Training Courses (WTC) are offered through the workforce training centers at NIC, LCSC, CWI, CSI, ISU and CEI and are aligned with regionally in-demand occupations. Check with your counselor for approved courses.
For complete information, review the Advanced Opportunities Handbook and visit the Idaho State Department of Education Advanced Opportunities website.
How to Access AO Program Funding
STEP 1: Sign the Advanced Opportunities participation form.
Every student must have a signed Advanced Opportunities participation form on file. To complete the participation form, please click here.
STEP 2: Register for the courses and/or exams with the college.
Students must register with the college that is issuing the credits. Be sure to check their specific websites for details, registration dates, and deadlines. Links to the college dual enrollment registration webpages are below. Students are responsible for this step with the college.
STEP 3: Advanced Opportunity funds will be requested on your behalf.
When you are enrolled in an overload or dual enrollment course, Deslynn Mecham, IDVA Advanced Opportunities coordinator, will request Advanced Opportunity funds on your behalf. This is done as a courtesy and simplifies the process for students and parents. Your middle or high school counselor should approve this enrollment, and then they will send it through so funds can be requested.
If preferred, students and parents can request their own funding, which the school will approve.
AO FAQs
When are Advanced Opportunity funds requested on my behalf?
AO Program funds are requested in the same semester you register for the course or exam. Fall requests include all single-semester dual enrollment classes and year-long dual enrollment courses. Spring requests include year-long dual enrollment courses through CWI, spring semester dual credit courses, AP® exams, and all other CTE exams. AO Program funds will be requested on your behalf.
How do I know what classes were submitted on my behalf?
IDVA will request AO Program funds on your behalf. To see which requests have been submitted, visit the Advanced Opportunities Portal. Log in or create an account. Once you are in the portal, you can see requests under “previous course applications.” As long as a request doesn’t show as “denied,” it is still moving forward. You can also contact Deslynn Mecham, Advanced Opportunities coordinator, at dmecham@idahova.org with questions.
How do I know how much money I have left?
Log in to the Advanced Opportunities Portal and click on “program enrollment status.” This will allow you to see your remaining funds, excluding any pending requests.
Who should I contact if I am having trouble with my Advanced Opportunities account?
Please contact Deslynn Mecham, Advanced Opportunities coordinator, at dmecham@idahova.org for assistance.
Who should I contact if I am having trouble with my college registration?
Please contact your dual enrollment teacher or the college/university.
How do I know if I have done everything?
Check to see if you have completed advanced opportunity requests for all your courses. To check whether your college course registration is complete, log in to the college’s individual enrollment system or contact the concurrent credit teacher to have them check their roster.
For more FAQs about advanced opportunities, please see the State Department of Education’s advanced opportunities website.
AO & College Registration Links
Credit Transfer Guides
Below are links to course equivalencies for dual enrollment classes at Boise State, the University of Idaho, and Idaho State University. You will also find links to the Idaho course transfer guide and the current BYU transfer guide. For any other school, please check their website or contact their admissions office for course equivalence.
Boise State University
Idaho State University
University of Idaho
Idaho Course Transfer Guide. The course transfer guide will help students navigate credit transfers between Idaho institutions.
College Transcript Requests
IDVA must receive transcripts for all college courses.
Students who have taken college courses must request that their transcripts be sent to:
Idaho Virtual Academy
Attention: Registrar Laura Powell
1965 S. Eagle Rd. Suite 160
Meridian, ID 83642
College Transcript Request Links:
University of Idaho
North Idaho College
College of Western Idaho
Boise State University
College of Southern Idaho
Idaho State University
BYU – Idaho
College of Eastern Idaho
Northwest Nazarene University
Lewis and Clark State College