Ensuring that as many high school students as possible have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in college is more important now than at any point in our nation’s history.

This week, public high school juniors all across Idaho took a critical step in the college-going process by taking the SAT during the school day at no cost to the students or their families.

Funded by the State of Idaho as part of the “Students Come First” initiative, SAT School Day is an example of how states can utilize the nation’s oldest and most thoroughly-researched college entrance exam to help promote a culture that encourages more students to pursue education after high school.

The class of 2013 is the first required under Idaho state law to complete a college entrance exam by the end of their junior year. Thanks to the leadership of the Idaho State Board of Education, Idaho Legislature, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna, more than 90 percent of Idaho public school juniors participated in Idaho SAT School Day, meaning that more Idahoans than ever before will enter their senior year of high school with a key college admission credential.

The SAT was created in 1926 to democratize access to higher education for all students, and Idaho SAT School Day illustrates that the SAT continues to fulfill this important mission. Enabling students to take the SAT during the school day ensures that promising students who might otherwise face barriers to standard Saturday testing – such as part-time jobs or other family responsibilities – will not miss out on a chance to prepare for the future.

Used in the admissions process at nearly every four-year undergraduate college and university in the United States – including colleges and universities throughout Idaho – the SAT provides a fair, national benchmark for assessing a student’s college-readiness. One reason why college admissions offices place such a high value on the SAT is that each section – reading, mathematics, and writing – stands on its own as a valid, independent measure, a distinction that sets the SAT apart from other college entrance exams. We believe the writing section– which is required on the SAT – is critical given the value employers across all industries now place on a job applicant’s ability to write. Additionally, no other exam of this kind prescreens questions on students from all 50 states to ensure optimal fairness across the country.

While some may dismiss the Idaho SAT School Day initiative as just another standardized test upon which parents and teachers place too much emphasis, the fact remains that the SAT, when used in combination with high school grades, is the most reliable and valid predictor of a student’s likelihood of success during the first year of college. Today more than ever, college is a major family financial investment. Students who participate in SAT School day can use their scores to help identify where they have a strong likelihood for success, thus maximizing that investment.

This week's Idaho SAT School Day will help move the needle toward more Idahoans going on to college, professional-technical, or other education after high school, including many students who will go on to become the first in their families to achieve a postsecondary degree. We hope this collaboration between the State of Idaho and the College Board, the non-profit education organization best-known for programs such as the SAT and Advanced Placement, will open doors for thousands of students and help create a culture of opportunity that inspires every student to aspire to higher education.

On behalf of the College Board, I would like to congratulate the high school juniors in the class of 2013 who participated in Idaho SAT School Day and are embarking on the journey toward postsecondary education.

James M. Montoya, a former Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Stanford University, is currently Vice President, Higher Education Relationship Development at the College Board.