(110 ILCS 148/85)

Sec. 85. Statewide planning and supports for College and Career Pathway Endorsement programs.

(a) By no later than June 30, 2017, the IPIC Agencies shall develop and adopt a comprehensive interagency plan for supporting the development of College and Career Pathway Endorsement programs throughout the State. Thereafter, the plan shall be re-assessed and updated at least once every 5 years. The plan shall:

(1) designate priority, State-level industry sectors consistent with those identified through federal and State workforce and economic development planning processes;

(2) articulate a strategy for supporting College and Career Pathway Endorsement programs that includes State and federal funding, business and philanthropic investments, and local investments;

(3) consider the need for school districts and postsecondary institutions to phase in endorsement programs and the elements specified in subsection (d) of Section 80 of this Act over multiple years; and

(4) address how College and Career Pathway Endorsement programs articulate to postsecondary institution degree programs.

(b) In accordance with the interagency plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section and within the limits of available public and private resources, the IPIC Agencies shall establish a public-private steering committee for each priority State-level industry sector that includes representatives from one or more business-led, sector-based partnerships. By no later than June 30, 2018, each steering committee shall recommend to the IPIC Agencies a sequence of minimum career competencies for particular occupational pathways within that sector that students should attain by high school graduation as part of a College and Career Pathway Endorsement program. The IPIC Agencies shall establish methods to recognize and incentivize College and Career Pathway Endorsement programs that:

(1) address a priority State-level industry sector;

(2) are developed jointly by school districts, community colleges, Local Workforce Development Boards, and employers; and

(3) align to sequences of minimum career competencies defined pursuant to this subsection (b), with any regional modifications appropriate for local economic development objectives.

(c) In accordance with the interagency plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section and within the limits of available public and private resources, the IPIC Agencies shall provide all of the following supports for College and Career Pathway Endorsement program:

(1) Provide guidance documents for implementation of each of the various elements of College and Career Pathway Endorsement programs.

(2) Provide or designate one or more web-based tools to support College and Career Pathway Endorsement programs, including a professional learning portfolio, Professional Skills Assessment, and mentoring platform.

(3) Make available a statewide insurance policy for appropriate types of Supervised Career Development Experiences.

(4) Provide or designate one or more model instructional units that provide an orientation to all career cluster areas.

(5) Coordinate with business-led, sector-based partnerships to:

(A) designate available curricular and instructional resources that school districts can voluntarily select to address requirements for College and Career Pathway Endorsement programs;

(B) designate stackable industry-based certifications, the completion of which demonstrates mastery of specific career competencies and that are widely valued by employers within a particular sector;

(C) deliver or support sector-oriented professional development, Career Exploration Activities, Intensive Career Exploration Experiences, Team-based Challenges, and Supervised Career Development Experiences; and

(D) develop recognition and incentives for school districts implementing and students attaining College and Career Pathway Endorsements that align to the sequence of minimum career competencies defined pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.

(d) To support articulation of College and Career Pathway Endorsement programs into higher education, by no later than June 30, 2018 ICCB and IBHE shall jointly adopt, in consultation with postsecondary institutions, requirements for postsecondary institutions to define first-year course schedules and degree programs with Endorsement areas to support the successful transition of Endorsement recipients into related degree programs. These requirements shall take effect in the 2020-2021 school year.

(Source: P.A. 99-674, eff. 7-29-16.)