LEWISTON (AP) — Educational officials in Idaho have approved a temporary regulation allowing schools to use their full-time equivalent enrollment numbers instead of average daily attendance to calculate state funding as several students have started remote learning during the pandemic.

The Idaho State Board of Education unanimously approved the change, which is already in effect, the Lewiston Tribune reported Thursday.

The regulation will provide school districts the ability to count students who may not physically be in classrooms by measuring the amount of minutes students spend in their courses, Associate Deputy Superintendent Tim Hill said.

Several legislators had previously disagreed with the approved change, arguing for a legislative decision. Others have said the districts can’t afford to wait until January for the next legislative session.

The board is scheduled to revisit the rule after a 21-day comment period. The Legislature will then consider the pending rule in January.

Some schools have offered remote learning during the pandemic to help limit the spread of COVID-19.