Legislators press CTE on wait lists, oversight for proposed $10M workforce-capacity grant

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard an overview of Idaho's Division of Career Technical Education (CTE) budget and FY2026 requests on Monday, February 10, including a governor-recommended $10 million ongoing proposal intended to expand capacity in high-demand technical programs.

CTE is a statewide system that supports secondary (grades 7–12), postsecondary programs at Idaho's six technical colleges, adult education and workforce training centers, instructor certification and related programs, the committee heard. Kevin Campbell, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee that CTE spends most of its appropriations in personnel and that the division relies on a mix of dedicated state funds and federal grants. "The Displaced Homemaker Fund receives revenue from a $20 fee assessed on all divorces in Idaho," Campbell said during his presentation.

Why it matters: Committee members repeatedly said the state faces a significant and growing gap between employer demand and available seats in programs such as welding, nursing and mechatronics. Lawmakers sought specifics about program wait lists, the allocation and oversight of any large new appropriation, and the condition of several dedicated funds that finance parts of CTE's work.

CTE leaders told the committee the system is experiencing "massive growth of demand" across secondary and postsecondary…