The Lake County Regional Office of Education (ROE) hosted the first SchooLinks Lake County User Group (SLUG) meeting on March 10, 2026, at the new ROE building in Lake Forest. The training brought together representatives from 24 Lake County school districts to learn and collaborate on how to best utilize the SchooLinks platform across middle and high schools. Supported by Dr. Karner and the ROE, SchooLinks is helping districts align career exploration, course planning, and postsecondary readiness tools within a single system.
Participants attended a variety of breakout sessions designed for school leaders and staff, including middle school career exploration, work-based learning, college and career readiness indicators, experience tracking and opportunity boards, course planning, personalized plans, individualized student plans (IEPs & 504s), and scope and sequence planning. The event also included a career exploration panel and dedicated time for collaboration to share best practices across districts.
This collaborative effort across Lake County helps schools ensure students understand how the skills, credentials, and experiences they gain in school connect directly to local employers through work-based learning opportunities such as internships, job shadows, and mentorships. The SLUG meetings will continue to support districts in strengthening these connections between education and the regional workforce.