Governor JB Pritzker presented his proposed 2025–26 budget on February 19, which maintains largely stable funding for K-12 and higher education with modest increases for Career and Technical Education and the Monetary Award Program, building on the past several years of progress and extending several impactful initiatives.
Recent data releases provide reasons for hope and highlight areas of improvement for college and career readiness initiatives in Illinois. Read our analysis and recommendations for improving equitable outcomes.
Spanning local, regional, and statewide work, Education Systems Center’s new policy agenda seeks to increase equitable student access and outcomes
Preview the key education policy topics we’re monitoring as the 104th Illinois General Assembly kicks off and new legislative priorities take shape.
This case study explores how the CareerSpark career exploration model fosters helps students visualize potential career paths and gain insights into regional industries, and facilitates active collaboration between employers, schools, and community-based organizations to navigate recruitment and logistics for the event.
Middle school career exploration programs are designed to introduce young students to a wide range of careers and professional pathways at an early stage. In a new article, we consider the inherent risks of exposing students to career options at an early age and recommend key considerations for designing equitable work-based learning for middle grade students.
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