SHS hosts test program

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint High School served as a testing ground this month in the effort to improve Idaho’s dismal post-secondary education rates.

The lack of college education among Idaho’s residents has long been a major concern for state officials.

However, a statewide pilot program initiated this year aims to be a positive influence in fixing that program. Known as College Application Week, Sandpoint High School served as one of the launching grounds for the initiative.

The idea is a simple one: the first step to any college career is filling out a school application, yet many times, graduating high school students never undertake it. During College Application Week, select staff work with seniors to complete and submit at least one application.

Students take their pick of technical schools, trade schools, community colleges and universities, and college admissions counselors and other volunteers help them tailor their application for best results.

“It was an awesome week for our students, and our senior class submitted 317 applications,” said event coordinator Jeralyn Mire. “Many schools did not require an application fee and the Sandpoint High School counseling staff was on hand to help with fee waivers and other questions.”

Sandpoint High School was one of 18 high schools across the state targeted for the pilot program. The event itself was kicked off by Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, who debuted it Nov. 11 with an official proclamation declaring Nov. 11-15 College Application Week.

With the week successfully completed, more Idaho high schools will likely jump on board next year. The Idaho State Board of Education hopes the new initiative will help improve Idaho’s number of residents who hold post-secondary training credentials or a degree — at this point, only 34 percent qualify.

That’s bad news for Idaho’s future unless those numbers improve quickly. According to the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, 61 percent of Idaho jobs will require some kind of additional training by 2018. That adds up to 146,000 out of the 239,000 job vacancies predicted between 2008 and 2018.

Idaho ranks among the bottom ten states for college participation, retention and completion. However, the State Board of Education hopes to change that, setting the goal that 60-percent of Idaho residents between the ages of 25-34 hold a degree or certification by 2020.