MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – The University System of New Hampshire has launched a new effort to get middle and high school students thinking harder about heading off to college.

The “Get Ready for College” initiative is an effort to get children and their families interested in and prepared for high education. It includes posters, a Web site, brochures for students and their families, and a “School is Cool” video.

The posters, which are the first phase in the program, will be arriving at schools statewide this month.

University System Chancellor Stephen Reno said getting New Hampshire students to think seriously about college is essential for the state to maintain a strong economy and workforce.

“We cannot count on importing people from out of state to fill these jobs and must do all we can to encourage our young people to gain the skills to meet these needs,” he said.

“This initiative is geared to inform students that college opportunities exist for everyone and that its never too late to take steps to prepare for college,” Reno said.

Rene Drouin, president of the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation, one of the partners in the initiative, said a key goal of the effort is to remind students that a college education is possible for everyone.

“This is a long-term initiative and we plan on working with the education and business communities in New Hampshire as we explore ways to encourage our children to stay in school, attend college, and explore the opportunities that await them,” Reno said.