State Board of Education seeks $15,000 for training materials for minors on campus; systemwide account transfers ~$4 million to institutions

Analyst Kevin Campbell (Legislative Services Office) presented the college and university systemwide budget and FY2026 requests, and Joshua Woodworth, director of the State Board of Education (OSBE), answered questions.

Campbell said systemwide is a budget mechanism housed in the Office of the State Board of Education to fund activities with systemwide benefit, including research grants that are typically transferred to institutions. Systemwide has 2.5 FTP and a base appropriation of about $6.4 million; OSBE staff highlighted that roughly $4.0 million of FY2025 estimated expenditures are transfers to Idaho colleges and universities for research and related activities.

For FY2026, systemwide requested $15,000 for training materials intended to address the presence of minors on college campuses — a consequence of expanded dual-credit programs and other campus activities that bring students under 18 onto campuses. The request is for systemwide because the need and training materials would have cross-institutional application. The agency also requested a $3,600 correction to the FY2025 CEC calculation.

Campbell and OSBE staff described recent additions to systemwide in FY2024, including positions and support for online learning platforms and Apply Idaho, an online application program used across institutions. Committee members asked about the circumstances that bring dual‑credit or other minors onto campus; OSBE noted camps and in‑person support activities in addition to in‑school dual‑credit instruction.

No formal committee action was recorded at the conclusion of the briefing; the board said staff were available to answer additional questions.