School districts across Kentucky are getting ready for "Operation Preparation."
 
It's a new program sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Education to make sure students are prepared for life after high school.
 
This program was put in place because only 38 percent of Seniors were deemed ready for life after high school and the state is looking to change that.
 
Operation Preparation is one week out of the year when every eighth and tenth grader in each school district will get advice on their future from a community volunteer.
 
According to the KY Dept. of Education, there's about 450 students per school counselor in Kentucky.
 
These community volunteers with Operation Preparation are actual professionals from a wide range of jobs throughout the community.
 
"They've had the training. They've had the education, and they can hopefully help that student by saying, 'Well, you may want to look at taking this class,'" says Pam Todd from the Career and Tech Center.
 
Each session will be about 20 minutes and each student will be matched with someone with a profession similar to what they're interested in.
 
"We are trying to stay away from any staff member working with a child because they see us every day," says guidance counselor Cindy Ray.
 
Organizers from the Hopkins County School District are gearing up for the event from March 12th through the 16th. Counselor Cindy Ray says the support from the community has been overwhelming.
 
"We've called people. We put our heads together and just started."
 
Operation Preparation is only one component of the state's overall goal to improve student's college and career readiness, and by 2015, the state hopes over 50-percent of all students are college and career ready.
 
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