Jonathan Furr Executive Director Education Systems Center at NIU

Illinois Pathways Launched in 2011 with support from State agencies and private industry Responding to a growing awareness: education priorities and employment opportunities were not aligned. Mission: To empower and support all Illinois learners to explore, progress through, and transition from high quality, structured career pathway systems into rewarding careers in critical growth areas in Illinois Provides a strategy to help achieve the P-20 Council’s goal of 60 percent of all Illinois residents attaining a high-quality academic degree or industry recognized certificate or credential by 2025. 2 2

Illinois Pathways: Building Blocks Built from longstanding state strengths: Agricultural education model CTE Programs of Study 2011 Pathways to Prosperity Report Race to the Top as an accelerant 2011 Illinois Pathways Intergovernmental Agreement Illinois 60 by 2025 goal Provides a strategy to help achieve the P-20 Council’s goal of 60 percent of all Illinois residents attaining a high-quality academic degree or industry recognized certificate or credential by 2025. 3 3

Illinois Pathways Strategic Vision Illinois Pathways was designed to meet two twin goals: Provide students with skills and experience that will prepare them for success in college and careers Spur community economic development by fostering a homegrown talent pipeline in critical industries Provides a strategy to help achieve the P-20 Council’s goal of 60 percent of all Illinois residents attaining a high-quality academic degree or industry recognized certificate or credential by 2025. 4 4

Illinois Pathways Strategies Through two interrelated strategies: Support local career pathway system development that empower students to explore their academic and career interests in STEM fields Launch and support the STEM Learning Exchanges as they work within their industry sectors to engage with businesses, communities, and schools Provides a strategy to help achieve the P-20 Council’s goal of 60 percent of all Illinois residents attaining a high-quality academic degree or industry recognized certificate or credential by 2025. 5 5

Illinois Pathways – Focus Areas Builds off of the National Career Cluster Framework and supports career pathway systems in eight STEM application areas: 6 6

Different Models for Different Contexts Provides a strategy to help achieve the P-20 Council’s goal of 60 percent of all Illinois residents attaining a high-quality academic degree or industry recognized certificate or credential by 2025. 8 8

Regional Focus for Implementation RTTT3 School Districts: 25 school districts implementing at least two career pathways in prioritized sectors Pathways to Prosperity Network: Chicago, Aurora, East St. Louis, Peoria 60 x 2025 Network Communities: Voluntary network; aligning pathways with collective impact processes

STEM Learning Exchanges The STEM Learning Exchanges have three overarching charges: Advise communities on career pathway system structure and best practices in a particular sector Deliver high quality curricular and professional development resources Expand access to real world challenges and work-based learning

Designated STEM Learning Exchanges STEM Cluster Area Lead Entity Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Illinois Foundation for Future Farmers of America  Health Sciences University of Illinois at Chicago Information Technology CompTIA Workforce Development Manufacturing Illinois Manufacturers Association Education Foundation Research & Development Illinois Science and Technology Institute Energy Illinois State University Finance Econ Illinois Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Note: For STEM Learning Exchange contact information please visit www.ilpathways.com.

STEM Learning Exchange Impacts 30 of 48 community colleges; moving toward 60 high schools developing a Manufacturing Pathway of Learning In 14-15, implementing 10 industry-developed, semester- long challenges in 20 schools, for 650 students 321 secondary agriculture education programs, impacting over 29,000 students Since 2008, expanded MSSC Certified Production Technician authorized instructors from 4 to 97; credentials from 53 to 879 Mentor Matching Engine connects high school students and teachers to STEM professionals Over 40% of all agricultural students participate in an SAE; the Exchange is targeting funding to increase that percentage Formal engagement with nearly 400 employers Online repository of high-quality STEM resources from 50+ leading Illinois-based organizations Sponsored high school team competition with Caterpillar

STEM Learning Exchange Impacts Modularized, half-day or full-day presentations about careers in IT Awards for high quality health science projects through the Illinois Junior Academy of Science Implementing an Energy Science curriculum focused on NGSS cross-cutting concepts Developed sequence of IT-related work-based learning experiences for CPS Early College STEM Schools Working with AHIMA to develop dual credit opportunities and early certifications in Health Informatics SmartGrid for Schools training teachers and raising student awareness in over 75 schools in 14/15 SY Extensive online resource repository for teachers and students 16 out-of-the box, online curricular modules Working with various partner high schools to define energy career pathway model

Illinois Pathways Advisory Council: Illinois Pathways Governance Model State agencies, business, Learning Exchanges, local representatives Illinois Pathways Governance Model Illinois Pathways Interagency Committee: DCEO IDES ISBE ICCB IBHE ISAC Non-sector Based Supports: Pathways Resource Center (HS & CC) 60 x 2025 Network (Regions) AFNR Learning Exchange MFG Learning Exchange TDL Learning Exchange IT Learning Exchange R&D Learning Exchange EGY Learning Exchange FIN Learning Exchange HS Learning Exchange

Illinois Pathways Policy Impacts One of the key strategies for achieving the state’s 60% by 2025 goal “Career” portion of State’s college and career readiness agenda Other State policy impacts: School funding reform: Additional weighting for “career pathway completers” Higher Ed: Guided Pathways to Success Department of Employment Security: Funding for regional career development strategy support Adult Ed & Workforce Development: Alignment with and incorporation into ICCB adult education and Workforce Investment Opportunity Act planning Regional RFP ISBE proposal for STEM Career Pathways support

Education Systems Center Supporting Role Engaging actively with State Agencies- IPIC NGA Education to Employment Grant Continued support for Illinois Pathways Exploring continued work with EFEs Supporting the strategic vision and mission for Illinois Pathways through: Coordinating and aligning Pathways-related initiatives Policy development Communicating the collective successes of the Exchanges Measuring engagement and outcomes National Pathways Partnerships: Pathways to Prosperity, US Chamber Talent Pipeline Management, Guided Pathways to Success Organized and coordinated by an industry-supported lead entity 17 17

Please go to www.ilpathways.com; ioer.ilsharedlearning.org Questions? Please go to www.ilpathways.com; ioer.ilsharedlearning.org Contact: Jonathan Furr, jfurr@niu.edu Andrea Messing-Mathie, amessingmathie@niu.edu 18 18