Kentucky Schools Launch New College Admissions Program

The state is rolling out an opt-in system to help students connect with postsecondary institutions for college applications.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Financial Aid

Bold vector editorial illustration of a graduation cap on stacked folders by an arched gateway, representing educational access. — The Kentucky Department of Education has launched a new opt-in admissions program to connect high school students directly with state colleges. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should public schools actively enroll students in college admission outreach programs?

The Kentucky Department of Education has integrated a new opt-in system into the Infinite Campus portal as part of the My Kentucky Future Act. This initiative simplifies the process for students to share their contact information with colleges, aiming to broaden access to higher education.

Why it matters

The program is designed to remove barriers for qualified students who might not otherwise navigate the college application process independently. By centralizing data, the state can facilitate direct connections between high schoolers and postsecondary institutions.

Established under House Bill 307, the program mandates that all school districts report student opt-in choices and contact preferences to the Kentucky Department of Education. Districts are required to finalize and submit this data by July 1 every year.

The players

Kentucky Department of Education

This state agency manages the public education system and oversees the implementation of statewide programs and reporting standards.

The details

School districts will batch-assign the opt-in forms through Infinite Campus for students aged 18 and older, or their caregivers for younger students. While paper versions are available for manual entry, the system creates a unified data file that the department transmits to colleges after the annual deadline.

Districts will roll out the opt-in forms to students between November 1 and November 14, 2026.
The annual deadline for districts to report student opt-in data to the Kentucky Department of Education is July 1.

Culture Shift

This program reflects a broader movement to streamline college accessibility by replacing traditional, burdensome application barriers with proactive, automated engagement. It shifts the burden of discovery from the student to state-facilitated connections between high schools and universities.

High school students and their families should watch for the opt-in forms arriving in their school portals during the first two weeks of November. Participation is voluntary, but opting in allows students to receive direct information and outreach from colleges they might not have considered.

The takeaway

Students should check with their local school district staff if they prefer using the physical paper form over the digital Infinite Campus portal. Engaging with this program early can provide families with valuable college access resources throughout the academic year.