In 2009, Illinois set an ambitious education goal known as \u201c60×25\u201d \u2013 the State would align and improve its education systems so that 60% of Illinois adults would hold a high-quality college degree or postsecondary credential by the year 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As 2025 creeps closer, that goal is becoming more elusive. Only about half of Illinois adults meet this benchmark, with just 64% of high school graduates enrolling in a post-secondary program and 28% of them completing one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can and must do better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a whole world of career opportunities to explore, and through relevant college- and career-counseling in high school, every student should be supported to discover how their passions fit within a career area. Career and Technical Education<\/a> opportunities and access to Dual Credit courses<\/a> give students the education, training, or experience they need to make informed choices about their future and prepare for a meaningful career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most important point in a high schooler\u2019s tenure is right at the beginning: ninth grade. Freshmen who stay \u201con-track\u201d are more than three times as likely to graduate high school than their peers who do not, making the \u201cfreshmen-on-track\u201d<\/a> rate one of the most important to measure and improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, resources and supports that enable higher education access<\/a> round out the package of how good public policy shapes high school success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n