Manufacturing is a cornerstone of the Illinois economy. The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) biannual economic analysis report, “Manufacturing Matters: Our Impact in Illinois,” reports that manufacturers continue to report large numbers of open positions. To help meet the demand for skilled manufacturing workers in Illinois while advancing equity, the IMA Education Foundation and EdSystems partnered in spring 2022 to launch the Scaling Transformative Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (STAMP).
STAMP seeks to support school districts and their postsecondary partners in aligning manufacturing pathways to Illinois’ rigorous College and Career Pathway Endorsement framework, which includes strategic dual credit coursework and high-quality work-based learning. At the same time, STAMP aims to increase the number of students—particularly historically underrepresented learners—participating in manufacturing pathways and matriculating to postsecondary programs and the workforce.
Our Role
Through a community of practice and technical assistance to regional teams, STAMP serves secondary students enrolled in manufacturing pathways that articulate to community college programs and employment opportunities, focusing on underrepresented students with one or more barriers to education, training, and employment.
EdSystems is supporting STAMP regional teams, which are made up of school districts together with their postsecondary and employer partners, to:
- Support high-quality manufacturing pathways that include strategic dual credit courses and work-based learning, aligning with the Illinois Model Programs of Study Guide in Manufacturing and Engineering and the College and Career Pathway Endorsements.
- Increase the number of students—particularly historically underrepresented learners—participating in manufacturing pathways and matriculating to postsecondary and the workforce.
- Understand the outcomes for manufacturing students and use data for continuous improvement.
To support these goals, EdSystems is designing a data infrastructure that leverages state and local data to analyze the college and career pathways-related outcomes of manufacturing pathway students in participating STAMP communities.
The structure and support provided through STAMP will accelerate and expand manufacturing pathways across Illinois and establish a foundation for broader scaling in future years.
Project Resources
- STAMP Overview
- STAMP Data Dashboard
- STAMP Data Brief: Students With High Needs Show Resilience Through Scaling Transformative Advanced Manufacturing Pathways
- STAMP Showcase
- Resources and Guidance for Supporting Young Women in Manufacturing
- Employer Resources for Hosting High School Interns
- Welcoming Young Talent: How to Prepare for High School Interns
- Navigating Legalities and Logistics: Hosting Manufacturing Interns Under Age 18
- Onboarding and Supporting Manufacturing Interns: Building a Strong Foundation for Success
- Cultivating Success: Mentorship in the High School Internship
- Connecting the Dots: Supporting Interns on Their Journey to College and Career Success
- Illinois Model Programs of Study Guide: Manufacturing and Engineering
