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Status
Current
Location

Statewide

TEAM
Managing Director of Pathways & Operations
Pathways Manager

Model Programs of Study Guides

The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) sponsored the development of the State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides in crucial industry areas as part of the Illinois State Plan for Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (also known as the Perkins V Plan). These guides were developed in consultation and collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education through a process led and facilitated by EdSystems. As further detailed in the guides, the process involved extensive research into labor market information and credential programs and dialogue across secondary, postsecondary, and employer stakeholders.

The primary purposes and goals for the Model Programs of Study are to:

  1. Provide guidance and exemplars for local programs to adopt or customize as they develop programs of study for approval as part of the Perkins V Plan.
  2. Establish a framework for state agencies to develop and implement program supports.
  3. Identify priority dual credit courses that are foundational to the industry area and well-situated for statewide scaling and articulation.
  4. Define the competencies that should be sequenced across a program of study to prepare students for the future of work in that industry area.
  5. Identify entry points for employers to support coursework and related experiences.

Published Guides

The first four Model Programs of Study Guides were finalized in October 2020 for the focus areas of education, health sciences and technology, information technology, and manufacturing and engineering. In August 2021, four additional guides were released for agriculture, food, and natural resources; architecture, construction, and energy; arts and communications; and finance and business service. In October 2022, two additional guides were released for culinary and hospitality and human and public services, as well as an updated guide for education.

Utilization Report

In the State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides: Utilization Report released in October 2023, we share the findings of our research into the utilization of the education, health sciences and technology, information technology, and manufacturing and engineering guides and offer recommendations to improve alignment to and future implementations of the guides in service of student success.

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