Idaho students not attending an Idaho public school in grades 7-12 may be eligible for a reimbursement of approved college course costs taken for dual credit and/or specified exams. The program provides a maximum of $750 per student for eligible expenses.
Note: The 2023-2024 school year SOAP application will be available March 1st, 2024.
What Expenses are Eligible?
Dual credit courses can be reimbursed up to $75 per college credit from a regionally accredited college/university that are numbered 100 level or higher (not considered remedial) and not repeated.
Exams can be reimbursed up to the cost of the allowable limit. Exams must be either an approved AP, CTE, CLEP or IB on the exam list. The SDE will maintain a list of approved exams/CTE exams for the SOAP.
Who is Eligible for this Program?
For a student to be eligible, the student:
- Must be an Idaho resident.
- Must be under the age of 21.
- Cannot be taking courses beyond the eligible expected graduation cohort (e.g. 4 years of high school).
- College credit must be transcribed on the high school transcript. Four (4) semester college credits equal at least one (1) full year (two (2) semester credits) of high school credit in that subject. Fewer college credits may be prorated.
- Summer is considered the start of the next school year, students taking courses in the summer shall be transitioning to the next middle/high school grade level.
- Exam must be either an approved AP, CTE, CLEP or IB exam.
How do I Submit a Claim for Reimbursement?
Applications will be available March 1st to submit a request.
What is Needed for Reimbursement?
For courses:
A transcript.
TFor Idaho college’s document must include grade (if applicable), name of student, course name, credits awarded and name of the provider. Transcript(s) can be an unofficial copy from the providing college/university. Courses being considered for reimbursement may be in-progress. In-progress courses may not have a grade, if no grade is yet available, you may be asked to provide one at a later date. If the course is taken from a provider outside of Idaho, a receipt or supporting documentation of cost would be needed in addition to a transcript.
For exams:
The document(s) must include the name of the exam, the exam date, the exam provider, evidence of the cost, and location. Exams must be administered and paid to a school or a post-secondary institution. Exams taken and paid elsewhere are not eligible.
What are Some Limitations?
Students are provided a limit of $750.
Depending on the number of applications and funding requests, as well as available funds, reimbursement may be less than the allowable limit.
Students participating in the public-school Advanced Opportunities program are not eligible for participation in the Student Opportunities Assistance Program.
College credit must be transcribed on the high school transcript. Four (4) semester college credits equal at least one (1) full year (two (2) semester credits) of high school credit in that subject (Idaho Statute § 33-5109).
Repeated or remedial courses are not allowed. Repeated exams are not allowed.
Reimbursement is only eligible for courses or exams taken within the designated school year.
How Will I Receive a Reimbursement?
Reimbursements will be approved prior to July 1st.
If the student attends: Bishop Kelly High School, The Ambrose School, Grace Lutheran School, Cole Valley Christian School, Nampa Christian School or Riverstone International Schools the payment for the course will arrive to the high school to be reimbursed. Talk to your high school for more details.
Homeschool or student not attending the schools listed above, those funding requests will arrive to the college provider or the public secondary school in which the request was taken. Please contact the college Dual Credit Office for more details.
Please keep in mind that funds are contingent upon all reimbursement requests, funds available, and limits for each student. If the amount reimbursed is less than requested or zero, it likely the student exceeded the allowance for funds.
Questions
Contact Student Opportunities at studentopportunities@sde.idaho.gov