INTRODUCTION
Despite the best efforts of policymakers and education professionals, the state of Idaho continually struggles to improve low postsecondary participation and completion rates. In an effort to create a sustainable college-going culture, the Idaho State Board of Education (the Board) has successfully managed and implemented a federal College Access Challenge Grant (CACG) program since 2008. Now in its final year of funding, Idaho has the opportunity to fully realize the goals and objectives it has been working towards over the past seven years. In addition to offering additional dual credit support to low-income students and providing comprehensive professional development opportunities for counselors, Idaho CACG provides outreach efforts across the state to underserved high school students through the maintenance and expansion of the Idaho Near Peer Mentoring Program (NPMP). Additionally, a newly established statewide access and success network known as Educate Idaho will work collaboratively with state and national partners to increase postsecondary awareness for students and their families, develop a strong web presence and communication network, and devise strategies to sustain the work of Idaho's CACG program once grant funding comes to an end in 2016. EDUCATE IDAHO
Perhaps Idaho CACG's greatest achievement to date is the formation of a functional and highly effective statewide college access and success network dedicated to creating partnerships, improving communication, and helping the state meet its goal of having 60 percent of state residents attain a postsecondary credential by 2020. The Educate Idaho Steering Committee was established in May of 2014 and tasked with coordinating network activities and guiding the work of the group. The membership of the steering committee represents interests from the state's K-12, postsecondary, business, and policy communities, and is actively engaged in addressing the barriers to access and success though regular in-person meetings, webinars, and conference calls. The steering committee is supported by three workgroups that align with the Complete College Idaho plan and the goals of the CACG program: an executive workgroup is responsible for setting overarching goals and deadlines, convening the steering committee on a bi-monthly basis, and planning for a broad statewide college access and success summits; an "improving the student pipeline" workgroup that is responsible for identifying and taking action to address and overcome specific challenges and obstacles to postsecondary performance and attainment in the state; and a partnership and sustainability workgroup that is responsible for finding and attracting financial support for the organization, in addition to developing sustainability strategies for the network once grant funding concludes. In conjunction with Educate Idaho, new communications resources are also being developed as part of the larger statewide access and success effort. OSBE contracted with an experienced research and marketing firm, Strategies 360, to develop new marketing and branding materials for Idaho's CACG program and the Educate Idaho Network. Called "Next Steps Idaho," the detailed communications strategy will feature a robust website that will serve as the hub of college access activity and information in the state, in addition to providing resources for students and parents trying to navigate the college-going process, in addition to teachers and counselors seeking professional development opportunities. Users will be able to link directly to college and career resources like the Idaho Career Information System, state scholarship applications, and postsecondary planning calendars, rather than going through registration or logon requirements. The site will also serve as an application portal for all state colleges and universities and help facilitate the implementation of the state's new direct admissions initiative. CONCLUSION
At 45.1 percent, Idaho’s current college-going rate is the lowest in the nation and policymakers and practitioners face significant challenges as they attempt to address the needs of students and their families. Simply put, the state must do a better job of successfully moving its citizens through the education pipeline and into successful careers if Idaho is going remain economically competitive in the coming years. The Educate Idaho Network will continue to raise awareness of postsecondary options and opportunities and foster a culture which values higher education throughout the entire state.
