Illinois Programs of Study Guide

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This guide begins with background information useful to understanding Illinois’ framework for implementation and evaluation of Programs of Study. We start with a visual depiction of the relationships between activity at the federal, state and local levels that evolved to the creation of Illinois’ Career Cluster Model. This Model, which is based on the States’ Career Clusters Initiative, is also discussed, along with a visual depiction of the relationship between the 16 career clusters, the 79 career pathways, and numerous Programs of Study. An example of this relationship is provided using the Health Science cluster since this cluster is one of the first tapped for statewide implementation in Illinois.
Following the introduction, we present the six guiding principles for implementation and evaluation of Programs of Study. Each principle has its own section with the following information:
• The guiding principle statement: A brief, straightforward statement of the principle
• A principle overview: The what, why and how of implementation relevant to the principle
• An “In Practice” example: A promising practice in Illinois pertaining to the principle
• An “In Perkins IV” statement: Legislative language that is aligned with the principle
• “Design Elements at a Glance”: Design elements associated with the principle
• Tools and Resources: Selected tools and resources for implementing the principle
• Appendices: A copy of one selected tool or resource, reprinted with permission of the publisher or author
The concluding section of this guide, titled Moving Forward, presents some activities planned for Illinois’ journey with Programs of Study.