As technology roles grow and high-wage IT careers expand across Illinois, districts are reimagining how students, especially those underrepresented in tech, access these opportunities. In Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202, that vision is taking shape through new Foundations of IT I & II courses that align with the Accelerated Model Pathways for Information Technology (AMP-IT) initiative.
In the 2025–26 school year, Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 implemented the Foundations of IT I & II courses as part of AMP-IT, a project launched by EdSystems in early 2022 with support from the Gates Foundation. Through AMP-IT, EdSystems has helped Illinois districts design and scale accelerated IT pathways that respond to employer demand and address equity disparities in tech. The project focused on expanding access for students furthest from opportunity by connecting them to IT coursework, meaningful work-based learning, and industry credentials that lead to living-wage careers.
Course Design and Certification
Plainfield designed its Foundations of IT I & II courses around immersive student experiences in three domains that reflect real IT career expectations.
- Help desk operations: Students serve as first-level support for their school, managing technology intake and troubleshooting in authentic, school-based conditions that mirror entry-level IT support roles.
- Hands-on technical repair: With oversight from building technologists, students repair devices and build technical mastery through progressively challenging tasks and performance-based assessments.
- Certification preparation: Using specialized curricula and tools, students prepare for industry certifications (e.g., CompTIA A+, Google, Microsoft) and may take local exams, positioning them for immediate employment or further study.
While these specific courses do not offer dual credit, they are intentionally nested within a broader IT pathway that connects students to advanced coursework, early college opportunities, and stackable credentials in high school and college. This structure ensures that Foundations of IT I & II function as an on-ramp into a larger sequence rather than a stand-alone experience.
What Students Learn
The course curriculum balances classroom theory, professional skills, and hardware troubleshooting, giving students repeated opportunities to apply what they learn. Students rotate through four major focus areas each semester:
- Skills-based labs: Three days a week in the lab, students repair devices, document their work, and complete practical assessments aligned with what they can expect in entry-level IT positions.
- Scenarios and professional skills: Two classroom days focus on concepts related to a tech certification, simulated repair scenarios, and critical workplace skills, including documentation, customer communication, and teamwork.
- Pathway and career alignment: Instruction explicitly connects course content to the district’s broader IT pathway, helping students prepare them for upper-level courses, dual credit or articulated credit, and future IT roles.
- Portfolio development: Each student builds a portfolio that tracks their technical and professional mastery, showcasing skills, certifications, and experiences by semester’s end.
Plainfield’s Foundations of IT I & II reflect AMP-IT’s vision for accelerated pathways: meaningful industry preparation, authentic work-based learning, and shared ownership across educators, students, and IT staff. Whether students plan to enter IT immediately or pursue associate and bachelor’s degrees, these courses ensure they graduate with foundational support skills, documented experiences, and the confidence needed to succeed in both the workplace and college.
