IDAHO FALLS, Idaho -- Budget cuts are not only hitting traditional classrooms in the state of Idaho, but also virtual classrooms.

With another click of the mouse and a few taps on the keyboard, class is in session for online junior high school student Dannah Knight.

"You're in your own classroom, except you're doing it from the comfort of your own home," said Knight. "You still are learning through the textbook because you have the online textbook in front of you."

Knight has taken a few online courses, giving her freedom to learn at her own pace.

"I like that she can do it on her own time and she can fit it around her schedule," said mom Melissa Knight.

"I don't have to worry about the distracting kids in the background that won't shut up so that the teacher can continue to teach us," added Knight.

But the freedom to take which classes Knight wants is now being capped.

"It's hard because that is something I really look forward to because I know I can come home and I can do it," said Knight. "But if I don't have it, then that's kind of a problem."

The Idaho Digital Learning Academy is being forced to put a cap on the number of students allowed to take courses.

IDLA is sponsored by the state, which limited its budget to $5 million this next school year -- a budget that doesn't allow for growth.

As a result, IDLA is having to cap the number of students enrolled at 15,000.

The cap took Knight by surprise when she almost didn't make it into her math class.

"I wasn't very happy, I was like, 'OK, what's going on here?' -- like last time I checked we don't have a cap, I could just get in no matter what and suddenly things are changing and I was kind of like, 'OK what's going on here?'" said Knight.

Thankfully another student dropped out so Knight was able to fit in, but in a course supposed to give students more freedom, there's now a chance they won't get in.

Since the IDLA began in 2002 its grown 50 percent each year.

The academy asked the state for a budget of $6.6 million this next school year, but that was denied.

The budget increase request comes as Gov. Butch Otter and legislative leaders are telling agencies to cut every dime they can to ease the state's budget crunch. Otter recommends holding the academy spending at $5 million in 2011 and then phasing it out.