Loved ones, teachers, and fellow students cheered after Kyla Wattenhofer signed her name on the whiteboard, signaling her next big move in life.

After she graduates from Elevate Academy North this spring, Kyla will enroll in the child development program at North Idaho College. 

The Idaho LAUNCH grant program helped her plot a path to higher education, to pursue a fulfilling career in a growing field that needs more workers.

Kyla, of Post Falls, moved to the area from Minnesota about a year ago. She didn't know what Idaho LAUNCH was until a teacher highly praised the program.

“After going through the process of applying for it, it just seemed very worth it,” Kyla said on Wednesday. "It's a lot of money."

Launched in 2023 as part of an education initiative by Gov. Brad Little, Idaho LAUNCH is a state-funded program to assist Idaho residents with postsecondary education and training. Those who qualify receive up to $8,000 in one-time funding to pursue in-demand careers.

For the Class of 2026, those careers include engineers, social workers, welders, bus mechanics, carpenters, office clerks, firefighters, child care workers and medical records specialists, to name a few.

Kyla said she found the program impressive when she arrived in Idaho and planned out her senior year.

"It's amazing that’s something the governor is going toward, because it’s important, especially for the younger generation," she said.

Elevate Academy North is a sixth-through-12th-grade career-technical public charter school that provides students with hands-on experience in fields such as construction, health care, and hospitality, all in demand.

Counselor Cody Wright said Idaho LAUNCH has benefited Elevate's students by offering a centralized application service that allows students to apply to multiple colleges, universities and programs all at once. All of Elevate's seniors make accounts and complete the career pathways modules. 

“I think it’s great that it’s available to everyone. All kids can access it, whether it’s an $8,000 grant or just a centralized location to apply for more scholarships,” Wright said. “It just makes the opportunity easier to access for all seniors."

Little announced Monday that LAUNCH is increasing postsecondary education and training for Idaho's students and is keeping more graduates in the Gem State to pursue education and careers.

“Idaho LAUNCH is delivering exactly what we promised: More opportunity for Idaho students and a stronger workforce for our state," Little said in the news release. "LAUNCH supports President Trump’s Talent Strategy for America and is helping more young Idahoans stay in Idaho to learn, work and build their futures here."

According to the governor's office, earlier research conducted by the Idaho State Board of Education found increased enrollment at Idaho’s public colleges and universities following the program’s creation.

A new analysis, the National Estimates for Impact of LAUNCH, uses national data to determine whether those gains reflected broader regional trends or an actual increase in postsecondary education participation.

The analysis found that more Idaho students are enrolling in postsecondary programs since LAUNCH was implemented. While out-of-state enrollment declined by 12%, Idaho’s total postsecondary-going rate increased. In-state enrollment among Idaho high school graduates increased by 11%, exceeding changes seen in neighboring states.

Prior to LAUNCH, Idaho trailed its neighbors in the share of students who stayed in their home state for postsecondary education. Idaho surpassed neighboring states in retaining graduates for postsecondary education in 2024. States bordering Idaho did not experience similar increases in postsecondary participation or in-state enrollment. They also did not see declines in out-of-state attendance.

“Idaho LAUNCH is a powerful example of how aligning education and workforce priorities delivers real results," Idaho Workforce Development Council Executive Director Wendi Secrist said in the news release.

By facilitating LAUNCH, the Workforce Development Council helps ensure that students earn credentials that directly connect to Idaho’s workforce needs, she said.

"These findings show that when we lower financial barriers and align training with in-demand careers, more Idaho students choose postsecondary education, and more of them choose to build their futures right here in Idaho,” Secrist said.

About 75% of Idaho students who graduate from Idaho public institutions are employed in Idaho one year after graduation, underscoring LAUNCH’s long-term workforce impact. In the news release, Idaho State Board of Education Executive Director Jennifer White said more Idaho students are choosing education and training after high school, and more are choosing to do it in Idaho, strengthening its institutions, expanding opportunities for families across the state and supporting Idaho’s long-term success.

“Through the board’s work across career-technical education, community colleges and universities, we have focused on creating clear, affordable pathways beyond high school," White said.

Adam Moran of Hayden is a homeschool high school senior who plans to utilize LAUNCH as a funding resource. He is dual-enrolled at North Idaho College and is a student at the Kootenai Technical Education Campus. After he graduates, Adam wants to enroll at the Parker Technical Education Center in industrial robotics and automation.

He said LAUNCH is worth looking into for students interested in training and education after high school, despite some challenges navigating the website.

“I think it’s a pretty good thing," Adam said.

Info: launch.idaho.gov

    Homeschool senior Julia Lampley of Hayden makes a top on a CNC lathe on Wednesday at KTEC. Machinists and machine operators are among the in-demand careers supported by the Idaho LAUNCH grant funding.
  

    Kootenai Technical Education Campus student and homeschool senior Adam Moran of Hayden moves a sheet of wood on Wednesday in Dale Sprouse's automated manufacturing class. Adam plans to use Idaho LAUNCH funding to continue his training at the Parker Technical Education Center after he graduates from high school.