1. Jonathan Furr
Executive Director
Education Systems Center at NIU

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 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 employers
Online repository of high-quality STEM resources from 50+ leading Illinois-based organizations
Sponsored high school team competition with Caterpillar

13. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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