Our Role
EdSystems leads the Illinois team, working in partnership with state and local organizations and institutions to enhance statewide efforts to reduce barriers and increase accessibility to college and career pathways for every learner. Leveraging Illinois’ robust policy landscape, the team is focused on moving beyond current successes to address remaining systemic gaps.
Through a multi-year design thinking process, the team conducted empathy research and direct student interviews to identify the “soft boundaries” of our systems—areas where current structures can be pushed or blurred to better support learners. This research revealed that while policies are in place, the transition from secondary to postsecondary often remains a point of friction for students and their families.
The Pilot
In spring 2026, the Illinois team launched a pilot project, which focuses on radically simplifying the transition from high school to postsecondary by streamlining the community college admissions process. For the Class of 2027, five community colleges—Parkland, Illinois Central, Rock Valley, Triton, and Sandburg—are committed to using a student’s completed financial aid application (FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid) as their official admissions application.
By leveraging existing data to eliminate redundant forms, Illinois Launch will shift the administrative burden from the student to the system. Supported by a community of practice and qualitative research from Jobs for the Future, the pilot will also deploy targeted advising and enrollment strategies to ensure students are connected to programs aligned with their interests. This approach aims to increase economic mobility for students, improve postsecondary outcomes for high schools, and bolster college enrollment across the state.
Blog Posts
Preparing for Take-off: The Illinois Launch Pilot
Five Illinois community colleges have officially joined the Illinois Launch pilot initiative, committing to piloting a new approach to simplifying the admissions and financial aid process for students across the state.
Launch-ing Into Policy Innovation for Postsecondary Access and Success
Alongside state and local leaders from across Illinois, we have been engaging in a design thinking process as innovation cohort participants of the Launch initiative. Through this process, we are working to identify systems-level barriers to equitable access and outcomes and develop innovative solutions for pressing challenges in postsecondary transitions and success.
Introducing Launch: Equitable and Accelerated Pathways for All
EdSystems is excited to announce our selection as one of 11 states participating in Launch: Equitable & Accelerated Pathways for All. Launch is a national college and career pathways initiative that strives for every learner to have access to and succeed in high-quality and equitable pathways.
