Events
Career Development Experience Toolkit Overview
Join us for a guided introduction to the resources and insights on implementing high-quality career development experiences in this free webinar.
May 28, 2025
Join us for a guided introduction to the resources and insights on implementing high-quality career development experiences in this free webinar.
The State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides are being updated to reflect growing opportunities in the clean energy sectors. Learn about the changes and share your public comment by June 15, 2025.
Highlighting exemplars from school district partners across Illinois, EdSystems is releasing a new work-based learning continuum to support college and career pathways in information technology (IT).
An overview of resources in the work-based learning continuum for information technology (IT) pathway students.
Recent data releases provide reasons for hope and highlight areas of improvement for college and career readiness initiatives in Illinois. Read our analysis and recommendations for improving equitable outcomes.
New data shows a significant increase in Illinois students earning College and Career Pathway Endorsements, demonstrating the program’s growing success while highlighting areas for continued improvement.
Joliet Junior College’s work-based learning continuum in industrial maintenance is generating positive outcomes for both students and industry partners. Check out the best practices from their model.
EdSystems is releasing its second report on the utilization of the State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides, focusing on the agriculture, food and natural resources; architecture, construction, and energy; arts and communications; and finance and business services sectors.
To support the scaling of College and Career Pathway Endorsements across Illinois, EdSystems is announcing a new quality criteria framework developed in partnership with diverse practitioners across the state, which aims to foster innovation, equity, and continuous improvement.
To help communities enhance their work-based learning programs and ensure equitable access for schools with varying capacities, EdSystems is releasing the new “Scaling Work-Based Learning: Quality Criteria for Continuous Improvement and Equity” resource.
EdSystems, in partnership with the Illinois Community College Board, is releasing updated versions of eight of the State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides to reflect updated labor market information. Share your public comment on the new drafts.
On May 21, 2024, the EdSystems team introduced changes to eight Model Programs of Study Guides and how to share your public comment.
Alongside a statewide advisory, EdSystems has developed high-quality criteria for work-based learning in support of the College and Career Pathway Endorsements framework. The draft resource is open for public comment until May 31.
Given the widespread embrace of College and Career Pathway Endorsements across Illinois, EdSystems has developed a quality criteria framework in partnership with diverse practitioners across the state aimed at fostering innovation, equity, and continuous improvement. The framework and its six components are open for public comment through May 27.
The May 9, 2024, showcase of the Scaling Transformative Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (STAMP) initiative featured participating collaboratives from regions across Illinois sharing how they are creating high-quality and equitable manufacturing pathways to help meet the demand for skilled manufacturing workers in Illinois.
How can we ensure high quality, continuous improvement, and equity in work-based learning opportunities? On April 29, 2024, our statewide advisory group shared insights from a new resource for stakeholders, now open for public comment.
On April 25, 2024, we provide an overview of the new “Quality Criteria for College and Career Pathways Implementation” document, which is now available for public comment.
We dive into the latest release of the Illinois Report Card, revealing dynamic shifts in CTE outcomes and a wave of opportunity in dual credit enrollment. We share our perspective on the data shaping the future of college and career readiness for Illinois students.
How are the Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides being utilized statewide by community colleges and their high school partners? Are the guides useful in helping regions design high-quality college and career pathways? What additional information and support do regions need to better align with the guides? EdSystems and the Illinois Community College Board seek to answer those questions through our new State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides: Utilization Report.
EdSystems has released a three-pronged inquiry into evaluating early pathways into the education profession, as conducted by researchers from the College of Education at Northern Illinois University. It includes (1) an evaluation framework, (2) the feasibility of using the ILDS to analyze outcomes, and (3) a pilot study.
The number of school districts implementing College & Career Pathway Endorsements is increasing exponentially. To support statewide scaling, the Illinois State Board of Education has drafted a set of administrative rules that will soon be open for public comment. In this post, we examine the growth of the endorsement system and share our review of the pending rules, which point to a significant level of momentum in Illinois regarding college and career pathways.
Manufacturing has long been a male-dominated field, but the future of this industry depends on inclusivity and fresh perspectives. We gathered insights from manufacturing experts on supporting young women in manufacturing pathways. This collaborative effort has resulted in a resource that offers practical guidance for students at any stage of their career journey.
Five early adopters—Illinois Valley Community College, Joliet Junior College, Kaskaskia College, Sauk Valley Community College, and Shawnee Community College—are releasing new incentives to Illinois students who earn a College and Career Pathway Endorsement.
At the State Dual Enrollment Academy, the Illinois team learned about developing equitable student supports and shared our state’s extensive work to promote intentional dual credit experiences for students through aligned policy.
Recent wins for Illinois college and career readiness efforts include legislation to improve the Illinois Articulation Initiative for education pathways, plus budget increases for the evidence-based funding formula, CTE, dual credit, student financial aid, and a teacher pipeline pilot.
The Accelerated Model Pathways for Information Technology (AMP-IT) initiative is expanding to 16 additional Illinois high schools, thanks to support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The first-of-its-kind Illinois Career Pathways Dictionary now includes expanded and updated definitions as well as resources and implementation guidance on a new website, pathwaysdictionary.org.
From work-based learning to pathway design to creating currency for students, EdSystems is learning valuable lessons through the Scaling Transformative Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (STAMP) initiative, a partnership with the IMA Education Foundation.
To help encourage learners to complete the rigorous requirements and earn a College and Career Pathways Endorsement and matriculate into postsecondary, EdSystems is supporting the development of equity-centered strategies and incentives for students.
What are college and career pathways, and why should employers get involved in training the next generation? In their March 27 edition, Crain’s Chicago Business tackled that question through two articles.
Find out how your school district or college can support manufacturing pathway students in applying for a new scholarship.
For the first time, the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Education Foundation, in partnership with EdSystems, is offering a scholarship to Illinois students who graduate high school having earned the College and Career Pathway Endorsement in Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Trades. The scholarship application is now open!
Throughout Illinois, community colleges, alongside their high school counterparts, are creating unique incentives to increase the rate of students earning the College and Career Pathway Endorsement.
EdSystems is proud to announce it has received a three-year, $165,000 grant to strengthen work-based learning and launch an education research collaborative in the Belvidere and Rockford region. The grant was awarded by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Community Grants Program.
In 2023, EdSystems began supporting Waukegan CUSD 60 and its regional partners with targeted support for alignment to the Illinois College and Career Pathway Endorsement and systems for career exploration.
An overview of resources in the work-based learning continuum for manufacturing pathway students.
As organizations return to hosting in-person events, how do we acknowledge and design around the challenges communities have faced in recent years while inspiring more people of all ages to pursue high-quality occupations in in-demand fields? EdSystems worked with three Illinois communities to address that question.
Quick Takes is based on results from the Student Voices Evaluation of Scaling Education Pathways in Illinois (SEPI), released in October 2022, which focuses on the perspective of students participating in education pathways.
An overview of resources in the work-based learning continuum for health sciences pathway students.
Education Systems Center is excited to announce our two newest Model Programs of Study Guides in Human & Public Service and Culinary & Hospitality. The guides were finalized in October 2022.
An overview of resources in the work-based learning continuum for education pathway students.
On August 15, 2022, EdSystems and more than 160 partners from across the state delivered a letter to IBHE, ICCB, and Illinois Articulation Initiative to request increased transferability of major coursework for future educators seeking to teach in elementary and secondary settings.
An archive of work-based learning blog posts from the Illinois Work-Based Learning Innovation Network.
The redesigned site features key resources, guidance and implementation supports, and exemplars for the PWR Act’s four aligned strategies: the Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework, College and Career Pathway Endorsements, Transitional Instruction, and Competency-Based Education Pilot.
Download drafts for the Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides in Culinary Arts and Hospitality and Human and Public Services plus a newly revised Education Guide.
Governor Pritzker signed Public Act 102-0917 (HB3296) into law on May 27, 2022. HB3296 builds from the 2016 Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act and many years of dedicated work by communities statewide to develop and implement high-quality college and career pathways systems that ensure students are prepared for whatever comes after high school.
As part of EdSystems’ Health Sciences Career Exploration and Career Development Experience Pilot, Rush Education and Career Hub and Chicago Public Schools piloted a new Career Exploration event designed with inclusion in mind.
The Health Sciences Career Exploration and Career Development Experience Pilot project is designed to support healthcare workforce development in the State of Illinois.
Resources to orient educators to the College and Career Pathway Endorsement (CCPE) system and its implementation.
EdSystems is proud to announce our participation in Accelerate ED: Seamless Pathways to Degrees and Careers, an initiative that seeks to blur the lines between high school and higher education and career learning experiences, allowing students to earn a career-aligned credential or degree by the end of one additional year after high school.
The AMP-IT initiative is engaging school districts and their community college and employer partners to design and launch an accelerated IT pathway.
STAMP serves secondary districts in implementing manufacturing pathways that align to the College and Career Pathway Endorsement, with a particular focus on historically marginalized students.
Scaling Education Pathways in Illinois (SEPI) introduces a third cohort of communities, a new mentor model, and expanded research into student perspectives and experiences in education pathways.
View the webinar recording for the Model Programs of Study Guide in Arts and Communications, sponsored by ICCB.
View the webinar recording for the Model Programs of Study Guide in Finance and Business Services, sponsored by ICCB.
On February 28–March 3, 2022, the Illinois Education and Career Success Network delivered high-quality content to a record-setting attendance of 767 educators, administrators, policymakers, students, and leaders.
View the webinar recording for an overview the Model Programs of Study Guide in IT, sponsored by ICCB.
View the webinar recording for the Model Programs of Study Guide in Architecture, Construction, and Energy, sponsored by ICCB.
View the webinar recording for the Model Programs of Study Guide in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, sponsored by ICCB.
In collaboration with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Education Systems Center has released a new Career Development Experience Toolkit Companion Piece to address the needs of stakeholders outside of a traditional high school setting.
New rules ensure alignment of CTE to existing policy frameworks such as the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act and that implementation embodies the spirit and intent of the articulated State Plan components. This clarified focus on college and career, with an emphasis on quality and equity, will ensure that Illinois’ students are empowered to succeed.
View a webinar overview of the Model Programs of Study Guide in Manufacturing & Engineering, sponsored by ICCB.
View the webinar overview of the Model Programs of Study Guide in Education, sponsored by ICCB.
View the webinar recording for the Model Programs of Study Guide in Health Sciences and Technology, sponsored by ICCB.
Learn how Illinois students earning a College and Career Pathway Endorsement in education can access a unique Golden Apple Scholar opportunity.
EdSystems supports the Plainfield community to engage community, school district, and higher education stakeholders in college and career pathways design.
EdSystems’ Pathways School Readiness Framework and accompanying Tracker are designed to support school districts, intermediary organizations, and school leaders to develop action plans for implementing college and career pathways in a deliberate and sustainable manner.
An analysis of the initial implementation of the Scaling Education Pathways in Illinois initiative, with input from the first cohort of collaboratives. It was undertaken to understand how the components of the education pathway were being executed in practice and to collect promising practices and lessons learned.
An archive of past convenings of the Illinois Work-Based Learning Innovation Network.
We applaud the US Department of Education for acknowledging the pandemic’s impacts on schools and build from innovative practices. We join USEd in seeking to re-envision how we educate young people and dismantle barriers that stand in the way of success for students of color for far too long.
EdSystems applauds the adoption of the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s new 10-year strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois: Higher Education Paths to Equity, Sustainability, and Growth.
The Career Development Experience Toolkit Companion Piece is designed for stakeholders outside of a traditional high school setting including workforce development organizations, community-based organizations, and alternative high schools.
To help combat the teacher shortage, Sauk Valley Community College is offering every student entering the college with a College and Career Pathway Endorsement (CCPE) a $100 credit. Sauk Valley is the first community college in the State to offer an award based on the CCPE.
The Education Omnibus Bill results in sweeping changes to Illinois’ P-20 education and workforce systems, spanning from home visiting programs serving Illinois’ youngest children to expectations for community colleges and universities.
Northern Illinois University’s College of Education and Education Systems Center at NIU are proud to announce new incentives for Illinois students graduating with the College and Career Pathway Endorsement (CCPE) in Education.
EdSystems is excited to announce an additional six collaboratives to be funded through SEPI, representing 16 school districts, 25 high schools, and 12 colleges/universities throughout Illinois.
For the first time, Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois and EdSystems are partnering to offer a unique advantage for students earning a College and Career Pathway Endorsement in education.
The first four Model Programs of Study Guides focus on the following industry sectors: Education, Health Sciences and Technology, Information Technology, and Manufacturing and Engineering.
Explore resources to support innovative and equitable work-based learning opportunities, including a statewide resource bank of team-based challenges.
As students across the state return to school, many high school students are now working towards earning a College and Career Pathway Endorsement. Ridgewood High School, located in the Chicago suburbs and a leader in the pathways approach, was the first in Illinois to award the College and Career Pathway Endorsements to Class of 2020 graduates who successfully completed the Education and Manufacturing and Engineering pathways.
In the first year of Scaling Education Pathways in Illinois, Education Systems Center launched 9 collaboratives representing 22 school districts.
The Career Development Experience Toolkit, aligned to the PWR Act, supports scaling high-quality career pathways and work-based learning.
EdSystems’ role with the Illinois Advanced Apprenticeship Consortium is implementing a Manufacturing Pathway aligned to the College and Career Pathway Endorsement system for students that meets the expectations and requirements of the PWR Act.
Through collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Education Systems Center has released a Career Development Experience Toolkit aligned to the frameworks established in the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act and embedded within Illinois’ broader strategies around scaling high-quality career pathways and work-based learning.
With EdSystems’ focus on key metrics of college and career readiness, the release of new Illinois Report Card data provides us with an opportunity to both celebrate progress and identify areas needing attention.
Education Systems Center worked with public and private stakeholders to define key competencies for the College and Career Pathway Endorsements and is now working with community networks to support implementation of endorsement systems in line with the PWR Act.
The Illinois P20 Council, The Joyce Foundation, and Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University have partnered to launch Scaling Education Pathways in Illinois (SEPI) to help address the teacher shortage in Illinois.
How District 100 aligned its CTE programs with career-focused course sequences in partnership with Rock Valley College, as part of the College and Career Pathway Endorsement framework.
To help transform outcomes for youth and adults across Illinois, the Illinois Career Pathways Dictionary defines key terms for career pathway programs and system elements, while also offering resources and implementation guidance to support statewide alignment.
To support the implementation of College and Career Pathway Endorsements at the local level, EdSystems has awarded funding to sixteen 60 by 25 Network Leadership Communities.
A new report details College and Career Pathway Endorsement competencies in health sciences, IT, manufacturing engineering, and finance and business services.
One of the PWR Act’s four components is the College and Career Pathway Endorsement, an innovative way for school districts to validate the hard work of students preparing for life after high school.
The new College and Career Placement Endorsements address the disconnect between what’s taught in the classroom and what employers need.
On behalf of the Illinois 60 by 25 Network, EdSystems has awarded ten Leadership Communities grants of up to $14,000 each over two years to support implementation of the PWR Act.
To support the implementation of the PWR Act at the local level, Education Systems Center, on behalf of the Illinois 60 by 25 Network, awarded six Leadership Communities grants of $7,500 each.
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