Illinois has been selected to join the 2026 cohort of the Middle School Career Exploration Impact and Learning Network. Led by Education Systems Center (EdSystems) at Northern Illinois University, the Illinois team is a cross-agency partnership dedicated to evaluating, strengthening, and scaling career exploration for middle school students across the state. This initiative, supported by Britebound (formerly ASA) and Education Strategy Group (ESG), positions Illinois as a “catalyst state” in a national movement to redefine how younger students engage with their professional futures.
The Challenge
While significant progress has been made in high schools to scale college and career pathways, middle school remains a critical but often underutilized window for career exploration. Currently, many students enter high school without a clear understanding of how their interests align with various industries or the educational requirements of different career paths.
Without a structured, statewide approach to middle school exploration, several challenges persist:
- Fragmented Implementation: Career exploration activities often vary significantly by district, leading to inequitable access for students across Illinois.
- Infrastructure Needs: There is a need for clearer goals and action steps to transition from one-off activities to a cohesive, three-year partnership plan.
- Policy Alignment: Existing state-level policies require further refinement to ensure they effectively support local practitioners and school counselors in delivering high-quality career guidance.
Our Work
As the lead intermediary for the Illinois team, EdSystems coordinates a powerhouse coalition—including the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Illinois School Counselor Association (ISCA), Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Success Bound, and the Greater Chicago Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (GCAMP).
Our role focuses on driving systemic change through several key workstreams:
- Strategic Coordination & State Planning: EdSystems facilitates the development of a three-year partnership plan. This plan governs continued collaboration between state agencies and intermediaries, ensuring that student voices and practitioner needs are at the center of Illinois’ policy infrastructure.
- National Field Building: We collaborate with national partners and peer states to co-create resources, such as a national diagnostic tool and a flexible scope-and-sequence for career exploration. These tools help districts implement meaningful career programs that are both scalable and sustainable.
- Technical Assistance & Coaching: EdSystems leverages individualized coaching and monthly cross-state learning sessions to problem-solve complex ecosystem challenges. We work to translate promising practices from across the state and nation into actionable strategies that fit the unique Illinois educational landscape.
- Alignment with State Frameworks: We ensure that all middle school initiatives align with existing Illinois frameworks, such as PaCE (Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act), to create a seamless transition for students as they move from middle school to high school and beyond.
