Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University (EdSystems) is a mission-driven policy development and program implementation center. Through collaborative partnerships, we design, implement, and evaluate policies and practices that ensure successful transitions to and through postsecondary and career opportunities for students.
Secondary and postsecondary educators and workforce leaders are invited to participate in a series of working groups that will convene beginning in January 2026 as part of an initiative to align Illinois’ programs of study.
Join a statewide training to enhance your understanding and application of the State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides.
How can community colleges better support students to access and succeed in pathways-aligned dual credit? Since 2024, the Increasing Dual Enrollment Access and Success (IDEAS)
How do we gather and utilize the right data and tools to ensure our systems are driving the student outcomes that matter the most? That’s the prompt behind the third pillar of our Policy Agenda: Policy Evaluation and Continuous Improvement. Learn more about our aims to address the question.
Access our new report on the Academic Progress Indicator, a student progress measure developed by Chicago Public Schools that represents a significant step forward in how schools and communities can use data to understand and support student learning.
The new release of 2025 school year data in the Illinois Report Card highlights notable progress in some high school indicators, but also identifies ongoing areas of concern in postsecondary transitions and success.