Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University (EdSystems) is a mission-driven policy development and program implementation center. Through collaborative partnerships, we design, implement, and evaluate policies and practices that ensure successful transitions to and through postsecondary and career opportunities for students.
How do we know which initiatives are helping students succeed? EdSystems is partnering with Rock Valley College, Rockford Public Schools, and Belvidere District 100 to answer shared questions through a data collaborative model. Learn what that looks like in practice, and where we’re headed next.
Through its Pathways Impact Fund, StriveTogether is supporting EdSystems to scale College and Career Pathway Endorsements in Illinois.
Governor Pritzker’s proposed 2026–27 budget maintains largely stable funding for K-12 and higher education with modest increases for CTE and a new Vocational Training Grant Program, building on years of progress and extending several impactful education-to-career initiatives.
Illinois has no central way to see whether high school graduates enroll in college, complete degrees, or find good jobs. Without linked education and workforce data, we can’t know which programs actually help students succeed long-term. Our new brief explores why data linking is so challenging and what Illinois needs to do next.
Preparing students for an uncertain future requires flexible, learner-centered systems that cultivate adaptable skills, expand access to opportunity, and responsibly harness emerging tools. That’s what’s driving the fourth pillar in our policy agenda, Future Readiness. Learn more about our aims and approach.
As we begin 2026, we’re reflecting on the significant policy shifts of the past year and the opportunities they create for strengthening pathways for Illinois learners.
