Insights
Policy Momentum From 2025 Into 2026
As we begin 2026, we’re reflecting on the significant policy shifts of the past year and the opportunities they create for strengthening pathways for Illinois learners.
January 6, 2026
As we begin 2026, we’re reflecting on the significant policy shifts of the past year and the opportunities they create for strengthening pathways for Illinois learners.
As we complete the target year of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal, what have we achieved, what have we learned, and what should come next?
At the Success Network Policy Committee’s annual data deep dive, we will review a range of secondary, postsecondary, and employment metrics.
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.
What needs to be true about our systems for all learners to reach their full potential? That’s the question we’re focused on in the second pillar of our Policy Agenda, Student Experience and Conditions. Learn more about how we aim to address the issue.
The Success Network Policy Committee is releasing a new memo on the challenges of implementing College and Career Pathway Endorsements (CCPE) and recommending local and systemic solutions.
When systems align around a shared purpose, students succeed. That’s the big idea behind the first pillar of our policy agenda. Learn more about how we’re working to define a north star and align efforts across the education and workforce ecosystem.
Whether you’re designing a new pathway, scaling up a successful program, or ensuring students graduate with both academic preparation and career direction, our proven resources and professional learning can help you get there.
The Policy Committee‘s meeting on September 24 included a new report on higher education outcomes from the Illinois Workforce and Education Resource Collaborative, a new memo on the implementation challenges of College and Career Pathway Endorsement, updates on state dual credit policy, cut score reevaluation, and new resources.
A review of education bills relating to building clear, unambiguous paths for leaners plus considerations for how the federal context is shaping state action.
The Success Network Policy Committee’s 2025 Q2 meeting featured legislative updates, emerging findings from the College and Career Pathway Endorsement workgroup, and new resources.
Illinois legislators are currently considering a number of education and workforce development bills. In this article, we preview proposed bills with the potential to reform university funding, manufacturing pathways, student placement and transfers, high school requirements, the use of AI, and postsecondary data dashboards.
Governor JB Pritzker presented his proposed 2025–26 budget on February 19, which maintains largely stable funding for K-12 and higher education with modest increases for Career and Technical Education and the Monetary Award Program, building on the past several years of progress and extending several impactful initiatives.
Spanning local, regional, and statewide work, Education Systems Center’s new policy agenda seeks to increase equitable student access and outcomes
Preview the key education policy topics we’re monitoring as the 104th Illinois General Assembly kicks off and new legislative priorities take shape.
The Illinois Education and Career Success Network Policy Committee quarterly meeting featured presentations on chronic absenteeism and a student-led survey of student experience with college and career readiness opportunities.
At the Success Network Policy Committee’s annual data deep dive on January 23, 2025, we explored a range of college and career readiness and success metrics from Illinois data resources and beyond.
On January 27, EdSystems hosted a webinar to launch our new policy agenda to improve student access and success in Illinois.
The Illinois Education and Career Success Network Policy Committee’s meeting on December 11, 2024, included presentations on labor market information for use in college and career pathways, Illinois Report Card data, and career exploration for middle school students.
Join us for the Illinois Education and Career Success Network Policy Committee’s quarterly convening on September 25, 2024.
Discover key insights and recommendations on overcoming transportation barriers to work-based learning for Illinois students in the latest memo from the Success Network Policy Committee. This memo outlines student perspectives, district strategies, and systemic solutions to enhance access to work-based learning opportunities.
Watch the recording of the Illinois Education and Career Success Network Policy Committee’s quarterly convening on June 4, 2024.
The Success Network Policy Committee meeting on March 20, 2024, included a walkthrough of the Success Network Dashboard’s new early college view and updated functionalities, the proposed budget, and emerging legislation.
Governor JB Pritzker presented his proposed 2024–25 budget on February 21, which maintains largely stable funding for K-12 and higher education with notable increases for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the Monetary Award Program (MAP), building on the past several years of progress and extending several impactful initiatives.
The Success Network Policy Committee convened a workgroup to explore work-based learning transportation challenges and is now publishing the first of two memos, which shed light on the significant transportation-related barriers students face in accessing work-based learning opportunities. This resource identifies and analyzes challenges impacting in-school youth at the school district, local, and system levels.
The Success Network Policy Committee convened to look deeper into the Illinois Report Card 2022–23 data and other data surrounding the state’s P-20 pipeline.
Review the recording and resources from the December 6, 2023 meeting of the full Success Network Policy Committee.
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.
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.
Review the recording and resources from the September 13, 2023 meeting of the full Success Network Policy Committee.
Review the recording and resources from the June 6, 2023 meeting of the full Success Network Policy Committee.
Review the recording and resources from the March 23, 2023 meeting of the full Success Network Policy Committee.
The Success Network Policy Committee reviewed data, including secondary measures and postsecondary transition measures at an annual data deep dive convening on January 25, 2023.
Review the recording and resources from the December 14, 2022 launch meeting of the full Success Network Policy Committee.
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.
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 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.
In response to the U.S. Department of Education’s RFI on Expanding Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Youth, the EdSystems team offered public comments based on the PWR Act and community interests, examples, and concerns gathered from our I-WIN members.