Across Illinois, momentum is growing for high school pathways that prepare students for careers in information technology. Through the Accelerated Model Pathways for Information Technology (AMP-IT) initiative, students are gaining access to college credit, work-based learning, and structured opportunities to explore careers in information technology while still in high school.
Fall 2024 data from participating districts reveals that the AMP-IT model is not only being implemented but is also gaining traction.
Pathways with Purpose: Enrollment Trends Tell a Growth Story
Illinois suburban and rural districts are implementing AMP-IT with increasing confidence. The program’s momentum has continued to build, with data from both spring 2024 and fall 2024 revealing the impact of AMP-IT across the participating schools. While 641 students successfully completed both the early college and work-based learning components in the 2023–24 school year, fall 2024 data indicate continued strong engagement, with students progressing through the program pipeline.
Of the 641 participants in school year 2023–24, 260 students, representing more than 40% of the total, came from target equity populations, including females, students of color, and those from low-income backgrounds. Fall 2024 data shows this equity focus continues, with target population students maintaining strong participation rates across the participating high schools.
School Year 2023–24 Achievements:
- 14,385 total college credits earned across all participating sites.
- 4,776 IT-focused credits providing career-specific skills.
- 9th through 12th grade students are participating.
Fall 2024 Continued Success:
- 3,167 students actively participating in AMP-IT programs.
- 1,676 students from target equity populations (maintaining over 50% equity participation).
- 2,668 students engaged in work-based learning experiences.
- 12,967 early college credits attempted in the fall semester alone.
AMP-IT Sites
School districts participating in AMP-IT include:
- Berwyn South School District 100
- Chicago Public Schools
- Grayslake Community High School District 127
- Herrin Community Unit School District 4
- Huntley Community School District 158
- Joliet Township High School District 204
- Lemont Township High School District 210
- Minooka Community High School District 111
- Naperville Community Unit School District 203
- Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202
- Township High School District 214
- Valley View Community Unit School District 365-U
- Vienna High School District 133
- Wilmington School District 209U
- Woodstock Community Unit School District 200
Beyond Enrollment: Family Engagement as a Critical Lever
While data demonstrates strong programmatic structure, the qualitative responses highlight a more nuanced opportunity: family engagement. Districts recognize that parental understanding of pathways, particularly those involving early college and IT, is uneven. Several districts are actively working to improve this:
- Chicago Public Schools uses consistent email communications throughout the year, updating families three to four times annually about pathway opportunities, early college enrollment, and student progress. Woodstock is exploring how to increase impact and sustainability through more robust parent engagement efforts.
- D100 uses a comprehensive outreach approach that includes counselor information sessions, evening events for parents, and printed pathway maps to support clarity for both students and families.
- Minooka and Wilmington have implemented counselor-led presentations and career exploration nights as key touch points for families, but also note a need for more consistent messaging and multilingual materials.
- Valley View School District‘s high schools focus on alignment with broader college and career programming, and family communications are integrated with districtwide efforts.
What emerges from the data is a clear call to action: while pathway design is strong, family engagement can be enhanced to ensure all students understand and access pathway options.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening the Information Technology Pathway Pipeline
AMP-IT is doing more than just enrolling students. It’s creating a pipeline, one that leads from exploration to dual credit, industry experiences, and certifications by graduation. Keep an eye out for additional data that will be available in fall 2025, including more information on pathway participation counts, dual enrollment numbers, and credential attainment rates.
The combination of robust student participation in upper grades, intentional early college coursework, and work-based learning partnerships shows that AMP-IT isn’t just another program; it’s a pathway with purpose.
