HR Roundtable Connects Employers with Purpose-Driven Career Exploration
In mid-September 2025, the Greater Freeport Partnership and Highland Community College Career Services co-hosted an HR Roundtable for local employers to discuss Gen Z in the workforce. Much of the conversation was influenced by JP Michel’s “challenge mindset,” a growing philosophy in career services, with which Highland Career Services gained much firsthand experience at the National […]
Highland Community College Recruits New Schools to Transitional English Effort
Several years after launching Transitional English at Freeport High School, Highland Community College (HCC) is once again working to bring this valuable course to more high school students. Rae Schupbach-Roe (Dean of Humanities, Fine Arts, and Social Sciences) and Andrew Martin (Career Pathways Navigator, former Transitional English teacher) co-hosted an introductory webinar for regional high school administrators, […]
Highland Community College Distributes New Resources
A first batch of new school-based resources, supported by the Room to Grow Grant, was distributed to high school administrators and counselors in the Highland Region Pathways to Success Leadership Community in early August. New Dual Credit Pathways documents help all stakeholders visualize the direct alignment between high school dual credit coursework and the precise requirements […]
CareerTEC (EFE 220) Receives Statewide Spotlight
In August, ISBE’s ConneCTEd newsletter put a spotlight on Health Occupations Youth Apprenticeship (HOYA) students and staff. The program, run by CareerTEC and comprised of students from EFE 220’s service area, including Dakota, Durand, Freeport, Orangeville, Pearl City, and Pecatonica, announced a 97.7% pass rate for the IDPH Nurse Aide Competency exam and several new […]
Prairie State College Partners with Bloom Trail High School
Starting in September 2025, high school students can earn college credit at Prairie State College (PSC) toward an HVAC credential while still enrolled at Bloom Trail High School. Students gain early exposure to technical training, preparing them for in-demand careers immediately after high school or continued study at PSC. This collaboration deepens PSC’s role as […]
Early College and Pathway Success in District 100
In the 2026 school year, 48% of Belvidere CUSD 100 students are enrolled in dual-credit courses, showcasing the incredible opportunities our students have to earn college credit and prepare for future success. The courses are offered in partnership with Rock Valley Community College and Highland Community College. In the 2025 school year, students earned a […]
New Memo Explores Barriers to CCPE Implementation and Potential Local and Systemic Solutions
Despite their benefits to students, College and Career Pathway Endorsements (CCPE) have struggled to scale in districts across the state due to implementation hurdles for practitioners. A workgroup of the Policy Committee studied these challenges and identified potential local and systemic solutions, which are now available.
Policy Committee Meeting: December 3, 2025
Join the Policy Committee’s quarterly meeting on December 3, 2025, 9:30–11 a.m.
Student Advisory Council: Fall 2025 Meeting
The Student Advisory Council convened for the first meeting of the 2025–26 school year to explore the ISAC student portal and the Success Network Dashboard.
Data-Driven Collaboration: Insights from the Success Network Leadership Communities Regional Meetings
This spring and summer, representatives from our Leadership Communities gathered to discuss how they use data to inform their work, engage with recent data to assess progress toward shared goals, and plan for future collective action. The regional meetings, bolstered by insights from the Success Network Dashboard, offer an opportunity for attendees to share strategies […]