College and Career Readiness
College and Career Readiness was created to be a support toward one of the Idaho Department of Education’s strategic goals, as established by The Superintendent of Public Instruction:
All Idaho students persevere in life and are ready for college and careers.
Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction
Whether you are a student, family member, or an Idaho educator, we hope you find resources and links that can inform, support or enhance efforts toward student success and goal setting for the future. We know goals can be as unique as the individual students we serve, and toward that effort, we strive to keep abreast current opportunities, resources, exploration, and pathways of success.
Helpful Information
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College and Career Readiness Programs and Funding
Idaho Statute 33-1212A requires each public school in Idaho who serves students in grades 8-12 to establish a college and career advising program for their students. These programs can include advising personnel, near peer/college mentors, students ambassadors, cooperative agreements with postsecondary or other school districts and virtual coaching, among other activities. Schools are required to professional development for these staff.
To support these efforts funds from Idaho Statute 33-1002 are distributed as follows:
- For school districts and public charter schools with one hundred (100) or more students enrolled in grades 8 through 12, a pro rata distribution based on students enrolled in grades 8 through 12 or eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000), whichever is greater
- For school districts and public charter schools with fewer than one hundred (100) students enrolled in grades 8 through 12, one hundred eighty dollars ($180) per student enrolled in grades 8 through 12 or nine thousand dollars ($9,000), whichever is greater
College and Career Readiness Resources
Advanced Opportunities
The Advanced Opportunities program provides every student attending an Idaho public school an allocation of $4,125 to use towards Advanced Opportunities in grades 7-12. The funds can be used for overload courses, dual credits, exams, or workforce training.
Learn more about the Advanced Opportunities program.
Next Steps Idaho
Next Steps Idaho was designed by the State Board of Education in partnership with Idaho’s employers to create a location for students, parents, and educators to learn and understand how to pursue educational and career opportunities in Idaho.
Learn more and explore Next Steps Idaho.
College Entrance Information & Testing
In preparation for the SAT, Idaho also offers the PSAT/NMSQT to all public high school sophomores that is administered each fall. The implementation of the annual PSAT/NMSQT and SAT is coordinated by the Assessment & Accountability Department. If you are seeking local specific information on the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT, please contact your local school’s counselor or district test coordinator for testing dates and details.
For more information and resources about the college entrance/placement exams and graduation requirement, visit our College Entrance Exams page.
GEAR UP Idaho Information
The current GEAR UP Idaho grant is closed and not accepting applicants.
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a discretionary federal grant program that focuses on early intervention strategies to assist low-income and first-generation students in becoming prepared for postsecondary education.
GEAR UP strives to help students meet standards necessary for high school graduation and provide them with the skills to succeed beyond high school.
Before choosing a pathway, it’s advisable to review the specific requirements and commitments of each program to determine the best fit for your career goals.
GEAR UP Idaho serves over 5,000 students in twenty-four school districts. For seven years (duration of the federal grant), GEAR UP Idaho supports two cohort of students from their seventh-grade year through their first year of college. Below are the school years and grade levels served:
| School Year | Grant Year & Grade Level |
|---|---|
| 2025/2026 | Year 1 7th Grade |
| 2026/2027 | Year 2 7th & 8th Grade |
| 2027/2028 | Year 3 8th & 9th Grade |
| 2028/2029 | Year 4 9th & 10th Grade |
| 2029/2030 | Year 5 10th & 11th Grade |
| 2030/2031 | Year 6 11th & 12th Grade |
| 2031/2032 | Year 7 12th & 13th Grade |
Not only does GEAR UP Idaho provide skills for students to be successful after high school, but it affords college scholarships to GEAR UP Idaho students after graduation (scholarship amounts will vary year to year). Scholarships are only awarded to GEAR UP Idaho students who are attending public and nonprofit Idaho colleges and universities. If students go out of state for their postsecondary education, their scholarships will not be able to be awarded.
For more information and resources about GEAR UP Idaho scholarships, visit the GEAR UP Idaho Scholarship Overview page.
GEAR UP Idaho Navigators
GEAR UP Idaho has developed specific college & career readiness resources called Navigators for educators, families, and students. New Navigators will be added throughout the year. To access resources, click on the links next to the Navigator that best fits your needs.
Downloads, FAQs, and Other Resources
To access resources, click the appropriate + sign below.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are students considered college and career ready?
Students are considered college and career ready when they have the knowledge, skills, and academic preparation needed to enroll and succeed in introductory college credit-bearing courses within an associate or baccalaureate degree program without the need for remediation. These same attributes and levels of achievement are needed for entry into and success in postsecondary workforce education or directly into a job that offers gainful employment and career advancement.
How does a school become involved with GEAR UP?
The current GEAR UP Idaho grant is closed.
Other Resources
Academic Preparation
Testing and information preparing for College in High School
- Advanced Opportunities – Start Earning College Credit in High School
- College Board – Learn more about college entrance/placement exams
- Learn more about preparing for or taking the SAT test
- Learn more about preparing for or taking the ACT test
- Taking the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT in Idaho
Step by Step Checklists for Students in Grades 8-12
Behavioral Health and Wellness Resources
- Edutopia – Failure is Essential to Learning
- Idaho Coalition – Center for Healty Teen Relationships
- Idaho Youth Suicide Prevention Program
- Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline
Career Exploration and Preparation
College Exploration and Preparation
Financial Preparation
- Idaho State Board of Education Scholarships
- Ideal College Savings Plans
- FAFSA
- Federal Student Aid
- FinAid.org
- Jiffy Lube® Teen Driver Scholarship Program
- Scholarships.com
- Unigo.com
Other Resources
Student Engagement Divisions
Quick Links
Contact
Jacque Deahl
Statewide Coordinator
(208) 332-6946
jdeahl@sde.idaho.gov
Grace Whitley
Program Coordinator
(208) 332-6984
gwhitley@sde.idaho.gov