At its February 2026 meeting, the Aurora Education Commission (AEC) workgroup on college and career readiness affirmed the following goals drafted in December:
- Continue the Illuminate Career Pathways career development experience for 9th grade students in school year 2026–27 and grow student participation by 30%.
- Develop a minimum of one additional regional career development experience per College and Career Pathway Endorsement area by school year 29-30. Target gap areas of Arts and Communications, Finance & Business Services, Human and Public Services, and Information Technology.
- Expand the Junior Achievement model of 8th-grade/Middle School Career Days to all Aurora Education Commission Middle Schools by school year 29-30.
These goals build on existing efforts to prepare students for college and careers. AEC schools recently participated in the following regional work-based learning organized and supported by VALEES and Waubonsee Community College.
Human and Public Services
The Early Childhood Education Visit Day on February 6, 2026, at Waubonsee Community College hosted 229 students, including students from AEC districts of Batavia, East Aurora, Kaneland, Oswego East, Oswego, and West Aurora. Students participated in workshops led by employer partners from Aurora University, DayOnePACT, DuPage Children’s Museum, Fox Valley Park District, Kendall County Forest Preserve District, One Hope United, University of Illinois Extension, and Waubonsee Community College.
The College, Career and Wellness Fair, is a partnership of Batavia, Yorkville, and West Aurora High School and is open to all AEC districts and many surrounding districts. Hosted at West Aurora High School on February 27, 2026, 744 students attended the fair, 122 colleges participated, and 53 career areas were represented by employer partners.
Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology & Trades
At the Illinois Design Educators Association (IDEA) Regional Engineering and Architectural Design competition on March 6, 2026, at Waubonsee Community College, student teams from AEC districts of Oswego East, Oswego, and West Aurora presented their response to an authentic design brief from industry to a panel of employer partners from International Motors, Engineering Enterprises, LAN, Kimley-Horn, NASA and Trilogy Architecture.
At the Career Programs Open House and Signing Day on March 12, 2026, at Waubonsee Community College, over 600 students, including students from AEC districts of Batavia, East Aurora, Oswego East, Oswego, and West Aurora will meet with Waubonsee faculty and employer partners in Automotive Technology (AUT), Automotive Collision Repair (ACR) and Welding (WLD). This event serves as a career exploration for 8th-, 9th-, and 10th-grade students and as a career development experience for 11th- and 12th-grade students through engagement with employer partners. There is also a Signing Day component for students attending Waubonsee in the fall in AUT, ACR, or WLD.
Arts and Communications
AEC districts, including Batavia, Oswego East, and Oswego, will send students to compete on an industry-created design brief via the Graphic Design Team-Based Challenge on March 20, 2026. Employer partners will provide student feedback on the design brief and their professional portfolios. Employer partners from DuPage County Health Department, Waubonsee Community College, Batavia Park District, College of DuPage, Aurora Fastprint, and several freelance designers.