Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers, school district administrators, and community college partners across Illinois have long appreciated the comprehensive vision outlined in the State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides, but many have asked for practical support in translating that vision into actionable implementation strategies. Today, we’re excited to announce the release of a new Companion Guide, developed in partnership with the Illinois Community College Board, designed to bridge that gap and empower practitioners to successfully implement and continuously improve their programs of study.
From Framework to Implementation
The Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides provide an excellent foundation for developing programs of study that prepare students for postsecondary success and in-demand careers. However, moving from framework to classroom reality requires additional guidance, tools, and strategies. The new Companion Guide serves as your roadmap, systematically breaking down complex concepts into manageable, actionable steps with role-specific recommendations for approaching the Guides.
What’s Inside the Companion Guide
This comprehensive resource is organized around the key elements needed for successful pathway development:
Understanding Your Foundation
This section focuses on the most important concepts to know before reading the guides in order to get the most out of the original resources. Topics include:
- The state and federal policy context.
- The differences between a career pathway, a program, and a program of study.
- Key components of a program of study, as defined by the 21st Century Act (also known as the Perkins V Plan).
- The intersection of career and technical education, dual credit, and work-based learning.
Implementing with Confidence
The Companion Guide also offers support for designing and implementing a program of study in alignment with the original guides. It includes:
- A step-by-step process for identifying promising occupations based on labor market information.
- Implementation guidance and reflection questions for course sequencing in both secondary and postsecondary education.
- Strategies and approaches to addressing access gaps throughout a student’s pathway.
Real World Application
The guide concludes with a comprehensive implementation checklist that serves as a practical roadmap for moving forward. This final section helps practitioners identify next steps, whether they’re launching a new program of study from the ground up or working to strengthen an existing program of study. The checklist can be adapted to meet your specific needs at any stage of development, making it an invaluable tool for both initial implementation and ongoing continuous improvement efforts.
Ready to Get Started?
No matter where you are in your implementation journey, the Companion Guide meets you where you are. It recognizes that every district’s context is unique while providing best practices and strategies that can be adapted to your local needs. We encourage you to share this resource with your curriculum teams, industry partners, and institutional leadership as you work together to create transformative career pathway experiences for your students.
