The Advanced Opportunities program provides every student attending an Idaho public school $4,625 to use towards eligible expenses in grades 7-12 to explore, advance and gain experience. The funds can be used for a variety of opportunities:

• Overload Courses: An overload course is a high school level course that is taken in excess of the student’s regular school day. These courses are offered online, during the summertime, and before/after school. In the event that student incurs a cost for such courses, the Advanced Opportunities program can pay up to $225 for the cost of the course. Overload courses must be above and beyond the full course load offered by the student’s local school.

• Dual Credits: College courses taken by high school students that are transcribed on both their high school and college transcripts. The Advanced Opportunities program can pay up to $75 per credit. Dual Credit courses can be taken online, in-person at the student’s high school, or in some cases students can go directly to the college/university campus. 

• Exams: Students can utilize Advanced Opportunities funds to pay for a variety of college-credit bearing or career-technical exams. These include Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or Career & Technical Education (CTE) exams.

• Workforce Training: Students can utilize Advanced Opportunities funds to pay for regionally approved workforce training courses at an Idaho public college. View approved workforce training courses for more details.

• Early Graduation Scholarships: Available for high school students who graduate at least one full year early. These scholarships are equal to 35% of the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) for a given school year. This equates to roughly $2,400.

📝 STEP 1: Complete the Advanced Opportunities Participation Form

Fill out the Advanced Opportunities Participation Form and submit it to your counselor. Participation Form English Version | Participation Form versión en español

(Required only if enrolling in IDLA or Dual Credit Courses)

🔐 STEP 2: Create an Advanced Opportunities (AO) Account

1. Go to the Advanced Opportunities portal: https://advancedops.sde.idaho.gov/

2. Click on “Create an Account”. Remember to write down your login and password.

3. Email: Use an active email you check regularly.

4. Legal Name: Enter your name exactly as it appears in Infinite Campus.

5. District: Select BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT.

📧 STEP 3: Verify Your AO Account

• Check the email you used to register for a message from noreply@sde.idaho.gov.

• If you don’t see it, check your spam/junk folders.

• Open the email and click VERIFY to activate your account.

• Your account request will be sent to a counselor/district AO designee for approval.

• You will receive another email once your account is approved or denied.

💵 REQUESTING FUNDING

     When you log in to your AO account:

• Login here

• Request funding for each class or exam individually.

• Funding must be requested during the same semester you register for the course/exam.

• Always select Boise Independent District as the district.

• Enter the school where the course is offered.

• Choose the correct college or institution providing the credit.

• If your course or exam is not listed, contact your counselor.

• Submit your request; counselors will verify and approve or deny it.

📚 REGISTERING FOR COURSES

• IDLA: Talk to your Borah school counselor about registering for IDLA courses.

• Dual Credits with Colleges: To receive dual or correspondence credit, students must also enroll with the college offering the course. This is a separate process that the students/guardians are required to complete through the College or University. *There is typically an additional form that your school counselor will need to complete. 

• Exams: Counselors and teachers will also provide information on registering for AP, CLEP, and CTE exams.

• Deadlines: Pay attention to deadlines, check specific school registration deadlines via this link.