As part of our work with state agency partners and educators across Illinois to bridge the gap between high school and higher education, EdSystems supports the state’s transitional instruction initiative—specifically designed courses in 12th-grade math and English that empower students to achieve college readiness before graduation.
As this statewide initiative has grown, so has the need for a unified, comprehensive resource to support school districts, community colleges, and families. Now, we are thrilled to spotlight the launch of the brand-new, centralized hub for this critical work: TransitionalInstruction.org.
Sponsored by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and powered by EdSystems, this new digital platform is designed to be a single source of information to help educators clarify state policies, forge strong local partnerships, and access resources to support course development and portability application.
Why Transitional Instruction Matters
Established under the Postsecondary Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act, transitional instruction targets high school seniors who have not yet met college-readiness benchmarks. Instead of facing costly, non-credit remedial courses in college, students take these specialized transitional courses during their senior year. A critical component of transitional math and English is portability. A passing grade in an approved transitional course guarantees student placement into college-level English or math at all Illinois community colleges and participating public universities.
The data shows this approach works. Since the scaling of these efforts, statewide math remediation rates have plummeted—declining from 41.1% for the graduating class of 2013 to 19.6% for the class of 2021.
A Look Inside TransitionalInstruction.org
The new website serves as a user-friendly roadmap for educators and administrators navigating the transitional landscape. Here is what you will find when you explore the new platform:
- Dedicated Track Overviews: An introduction into the distinct structures of Transitional English, understanding exactly what the integrated reading and writing course is—and is not, and Transitional Math, exploring the three distinct course pathways: STEM, Quantitative Literacy/Statistics, and Technical Math.
- Portability Guidance: Learn how the statewide portability panel process ensures a student’s success travels with them to any public higher education institution in Illinois. Districts can access the parameters required to apply for portability status.
- Curated Resources: Access framework documents, course parameters, competencies, and policies all in one place. Whether you are an educator looking for classroom guidance or an administrator coordinating local advisory panels, the site organizes free tools to support your implementation.
EdSystems’ Ongoing Commitment
The launch of this website marks an exciting milestone in our long-term involvement with the initiative. From the outset, EdSystems has launched and managed the interagency processes that established the uniform competencies for both math and English. Our team continues to coordinate interagency convenings with the ICCB, Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Board of Higher Education, and Illinois Student Assistance Commission. We facilitate biannual data reviews to keep continuous improvement at the center of this work, partner with regional offices of education to host professional development events like the annual Transitional English Summit, and support local community colleges as they collaborate with high school partners.
Explore and Share!
Whether you are a high school counselor helping a student plan their senior year, a college administrator aligning placement standards, or an educator teaching the curriculum, TransitionalInstruction.org is built for you. We invite you to explore the new site, bookmark the resources, and join us in celebrating this collective step forward in creating clear, unambiguous pathways to college and career success for all Illinois students.
