Empowering Parents: Idaho Odyssey Program
At Miacademy, we’ve been hard at work partnering with various state funding agencies across the country. Our goal is to make a quality education accessible for every student, and we’re accomplishing our goal one state at a time. If you’re homeschooling in Idaho, we have some exciting news to share with you!
Miacademy is now an educational provider for the Idaho Odyssey Empowering Parents Program! Eligible families in Idaho can access Miacademy’s accredited online homeschool curriculum with funding provided by the Empowering Parents program, powered by Odyssey.
What is the Empowering Parents Program in Idaho?
Idaho’s Empowering Parents Program is a $30 million program that offers microgrants for out-of-pocket educational expenses, such as textbooks and laptops. The state rolled out Empowering Parents in 2022, channeling $50 million of federal coronavirus relief funds into the initiative. By 2023, Governor Little and the Idaho Legislature agreed to allocate $30 million from the state to ensure the program’s continuation.
Idaho families will have access to $1,000 per eligible student, with a maximum award of $3,000 per family. The funds can be used for the following:
- Tuition, technology, textbook and curriculum fees, and instructional materials for camps and extracurricular classes
- Registration fees for Day Camps that operate for less than 12 weeks out of the year or for just one day per week
- Registration fees for State-licensed Camp programs lasting 9 consecutive weeks or longer
- Registration fees for State-licensed Children’s Therapeutic Outdoor Programs designed to provide behavioral, substance abuse, or mental health services to minors in an outdoor setting
- Out-of-State Camps accredited by the American Camp Association and approved by the State Board of Education
What is not approved:
- Tuition and fees for enrollment in a virtual school or class where the student is enrolled as a private paying student
- Private school tuition and fees
- Religious camps
- Annual funds
- Giving Funds
- Fundraising fees, donation fees, volunteer waiver fees
- Homeschool co-op tuition and fees
- Gift cards
- Transportation
Since Miacademy is a curriculum, our subscriptions are covered under the program. For a full list of all qualified and unqualified uses, please visit the Empowering Parents Eligible Expenses page.
Who is eligible for the Odyssey grant in Idaho?
All Idaho students (K-12) who meet the financial requirements are eligible, regardless of whether they attend a public or private school or are homeschooled.
Award priority is based on the parent or guardian’s adjusted gross income. Eligible families earning $60,000 per year or less are prioritized.
Income eligibility will be based on the parent’s adjusted gross income from the previous year’s filing, and it will be verified by the Idaho Tax Commission.
How Do I Get Miacademy with Odyssey Empowering Parents in Idaho?
Applications for the school year will open in the fall. Student awards are made in waves based on a parent’s Adjusted Gross Income
Parents who have already received awards can now access their funds through Odyssey’s new, convenient online marketplace.
- Log into your Odyssey Portal
- Click on “View Balance” for your student
- Click “View Marketplace.” Watch the video tutorial here.
Grant funds will become available in the digital wallet within 30 days of being awarded. Funds must be spent within two calendar years of the award. Any funds that are left after the two year period will be returned to the Empowering Parents fund to go to another student. You can read more about how the online marketplace works in the Idaho Odyssey Parent Purchasing Guide.
If you’d like to learn more about the Idaho Empowering Parents (Odyssey) Program, please visit the official scholarship website or check out the program’s Parent Handbook.
If you have any questions about how Miacademy or MiaPrep can help you on your Idaho homeschooling journey, please feel free to contact one of our friendly customer service representatives! They’ll be happy to help you find the information you need.
FAQ
If I was awarded a grant last year, can I reapply this year?
Yes, you can reapply for the grant if you were awarded in the previous year.
What is the Empowering Parents grant in Idaho?
The Empowering Parents program in Idaho provides grants for educational expenses, prioritizing funds based on household income. The program is for K-12 students attending public, private, or homeschools within the state who meet the financial requirements.
Information accurate as of: 04/10/2024. The information provided on this site is intended for research purposes only. Miaplaza is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated information, or for the results yielded through use of this information.