Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University (EdSystems) is a mission-driven policy development and program implementation center. We foster collaborative partnerships to design, implement, and evaluate policies and practices that ensure successful transitions to and through postsecondary and career opportunities for students, with a particular emphasis on historically marginalized populations.
In partnership with the Illinois Community College Board, EdSystems is releasing a new Companion Guide to the State of Illinois Model Programs of Study, designed to help CTE teachers, school district administrators, and community college partners successfully implement and continuously improve their programs of study.
Illinois’ new unified proficiency benchmarks better reflect students’ real readiness for college and careers, but they also raise challenges for schools in tracking growth and improvement over time.
Whether you’re designing a new pathway, scaling up a successful program, or ensuring students graduate with both academic preparation and career direction, our proven resources and professional learning can help you get there.
The State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides are being updated to reflect growing opportunities in the clean energy sectors. Learn about the changes and share your public comment by June 15, 2025.
What if every student graduated not just with a diploma, but also with college credit and a clear plan for the future? In Lake County, Illinois, this vision is becoming a reality, and it’s raising the bar for what college and career readiness looks like statewide.
We asked high school students in manufacturing pathways to share what is helping them most, what challenges they face, and what additional support is needed. Our analysis uncovered three areas that are working well and four clear recommendations for schools.
