This week is College Application Week across the state, sponsored by the state Board of Education and proclaimed by Gov. Butch Otter. It’s also the week that thousands of letters from Gov. Butch Otter and state Board of Education President Don Soltman are expected to start hitting the mailboxes of high school seniors across the state notifying them that they’ve been proactively admitted to state colleges or universities based on their GPA and college entrance exam scores; that’s part of the state board’s new “Direct Admissions” program, which is designed to push more Idaho students to go on to higher education.

Students who get the direct admission letters still would have to complete an admission application to the college or university of their choice as the next step in the admissions process.

Schools around the state are focusing on college with various activities this week, including Priest River Lamanna High School, where senior Hannah Keinert organized a symposium for parents and students tonight on Idaho dual credit programs, and the school also has other events planned. The symposium is Hannah’s senior project; she will graduate in the spring with nearly two years worth of college credit, and is encouraging other students to explore Idaho’s expanding advanced opportunities programs; you can read my full story here from today’s Spokesman-Review.