Christine Monahan never imagined getting a higher education as a child. The youngest of five children, none of her siblings attended college. But her parents thought their others were making a mistake and didn't want Christine to do the same —- so they encouraged her to think about college when she was a middle-school student.

"Without my parents steering me toward college, I wouldn't be as driven and successful in school as I am today," said the junior at St. John's University in New York.

Monahan was fortunate that her family reinforced the importance of college at an early age. According to the U.S. Department of Education, students who develop an education career plan in middle school are more likely to attend college.

"With a large percentage of today's jobs requiring more than a high school diploma, a higher education is more important than ever," said Rose Fabiszak of the College Board, a not-for-profit association that connects students to college. "Unfortunately, many students do not think about college until it's too late —-which affects their entrance into and success in college."

Students who aren't prepared often need help when they get to college. According to a National Governors Association report, nearly a third of high school seniors who go to college require remedial courses.

The College Board has developed a program called CollegeEd to help students and their families begin the conversation about college as early as sixth grade. CollegeEd is used in schools around the country to engage students in thinking about what they can do now to work toward their future goals. Parents and teachers gain valuable information about becoming more involved in the process.

"The topic of college is so broad, to students as well as to educators," said Shanda Ross, a teacher at James Martin Middle School in Charlotte, N.C. "I loved using the CollegeEd curriculum because it gave the topic of college a shape and a direction."

Educators hope CollegeEd will get students interested in college at a young age, help them make the decisions they'll need to get there, and help parents learn that college is within their child's reach.

"Learning about college at an early age can engage, inspire and motivate students —- and foster a college-going culture in schools," said Fabiszak, who directs the CollegeEd Program.

For more information about CollegeEd, visit www.collegeboard.com/collegeed.