BOISE, Idaho (AP) — More than 20,000 high school seniors received good news this year when they received acceptance letters to Idaho's public colleges and universities as part of the state's new admissions program.

The Times-News reports that the Idaho Board of Education announced Monday that congratulatory letters were sent to each student's parents or guardians and the students as part of the new Direct Admissions program.

Through Direct Admissions students are proactively admitted to schools based on grades and college entrance exam scores. Students meeting this threshold are accepted to Idaho's eight public institutions. .

Students who did not meet the benchmark are accepted to six schools that offer certificate or associate degree programs. Earlier this year the board approved Direct Admissions in hopes of improving Idaho's college attendance rates.

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