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Durable Skills · Career Readiness · Illinois

Illinois Durable Skills & Career Readiness Alignment

Renzulli Learning is the K-12 platform that both assesses and develops the durable skills Illinois’ PaCE Framework for grades 6–12, the College and Career Pathway Endorsements under the PWR Act (individualized learning plan + career-focused instructional sequence + work-based learning + academic readiness), the 16 Career Clusters in Illinois CTE Programs of Study, the 10 Illinois CTSOs, the Work-Based Learning Continuum, and the ESSA College and Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI) demand — critical thinking, creativity, executive function, leadership, collaboration, communication, and self-direction.

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PaCE 6–12
Mandatory by July 1, 2025 (Public Act 102-0917)
CCPE
PWR Act College & Career Pathway Endorsements
CCRI
ESSA College & Career Readiness Indicator
16 / 10
Career Clusters / Illinois CTSOs
Illinois' vision for every graduate

The PaCE Framework, College & Career Pathway Endorsements & Why Durable Skills Are the Center

Illinois’ career readiness framework is anchored by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), and the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act (Public Act 99-0674; amended by Public Act 102-0917 / HB 3296). The minimum high school graduation requirements established by 105 ILCS 5/27-22 require a minimum of 16 units in grades 9–12 (12 units for a three-year high school) including English (4), mathematics (3 incl. Algebra I and a course with geometry content), science (2; lab science required for the Class entering 9th grade in 2024-25 and after), social studies (2 incl. U.S. history and at least one semester of civics), and one year of art / music / foreign language / vocational education.

Districts must also provide daily physical education, 18 weeks of health, 9 weeks of consumer education, computer literacy, computer science (Class entering 9th grade in 2023-24 and after), and a Constitution test. The PaCE (Postsecondary and Career Expectations) Framework (Public Act 102-0917; HB 3296) requires districts other than Chicago Public Schools to adopt and implement career exploration and career development activities for grades 6–12 by July 1, 2025 (CPS by July 1, 2024), or formally opt out — organized around three pillars: career exploration & development, postsecondary education exploration / preparation / selection, and financial aid & literacy. The College and Career Pathway Endorsement (CCPE) framework (110 ILCS 148/80) requires students to complete (1) an individualized learning plan including resume and personal statement, (2) a career-focused instructional sequence with at least 6 hours of early college credit, (3) professional learning consisting of at least 2 career exploration activities or 1 intensive experience, at least 2 team-based challenges with adult mentoring, and at least 60 cumulative hours of supervised career development experience culminating with a professional skills assessment, and (4) academic readiness for non-remedial reading and math. The ESSA CCRI recognizes CCPE attainment, AP/IB scores, dual credit, industry credentials, military readiness, 25 hours of community service, and the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework. The challenge for Illinois counselors: durable skills are easy to name across PaCE and CCPE but hard to measure and develop systematically.

Renzulli Learning is the K-12 platform that both assesses and develops the durable skills Illinois’ PaCE Framework grades 6–12, College and Career Pathway Endorsements, ESSA CCRI, 16 Career Clusters in CTE Programs of Study, 10 Illinois CTSOs, and Work-Based Learning Continuum demand. The Cebeci Test of Creativity (CTC) measures creativity (US Patent 12,087,176) — the durable skill behind innovation across all 16 Career Clusters. The Executive Function Assessment measures the durable skills behind 16-unit completion and academic readiness for non-remedial coursework. The Leadership Assessment measures durable skills supporting Illinois CTSO participation and the Illinois Essential Employability Skills used as the Professional Skills Assessment. The Profiler captures interests, learning styles, and expression styles in 20+ languages — informing the individualized learning plan referenced throughout PaCE and CCPE. SEM Type III Project-Based Learning produces capstone artifacts complementing CCPE team-based challenges and supervised career development experiences. The Personal Success Plan (PSP) generates exportable summaries documenting the individualized learning plan, resume, and personal statement across grades 6–12. The result: Illinois districts get measurable durable-skills evidence — turning PaCE, CCPE, and CCRI into year-round documented practice.
Illinois framework components

Each Illinois Framework Component Mapped to a Renzulli Tool That Measures and Develops It

Illinois’ framework is anchored by the PaCE Framework grades 6–12, the College and Career Pathway Endorsements, the 16-unit graduation minimum, the ESSA CCRI, the 16 Career Clusters in Illinois CTE Programs of Study, the 10 Illinois CTSOs, and the Work-Based Learning Continuum. Each component pairs with the Renzulli instruments and content that measure and develop the durable skills behind it:

PaCE
PaCE Framework Grades 6–12
Measure: Profiler in 20+ languages
Develop: PSP year-round goal cycles
PA 102-0917 (HB 3296); mandatory implementation
CCPE
College & Career Pathway Endorsements
Measure: All 4 Renzulli assessments
Develop: SEM Type III PBL + PSP
110 ILCS 148/80; ILP + sequence + WBL + readiness
16 Units
Minimum Graduation Program
Measure: EFA
Develop: SEM Type III PBL + Enrichment Database
105 ILCS 5/27-22; aligned to Illinois Learning Standards
CCRI
ESSA College & Career Readiness Indicator
Measure: EFA + Leadership Assessment
Develop: SEM Type III PBL + PSP
Multi-factor approach incl. Illinois Essential Employability Skills
CTE
16 Career Clusters / 10 Illinois CTSOs
Measure: Profiler + Leadership Assessment
Develop: CTSO-aligned PBL + capstones
BPA, DECA, Ed Rising, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, Sci Olympiad, SkillsUSA, TSA
WBL
Work-Based Learning Continuum
Measure: Leadership Assessment + EFA
Develop: SEM Type III PBL + PSP
Awareness → exploration → CDE → youth apprenticeship → RA
The seven durable skills Renzulli develops

Durable Skills, Defined: What Renzulli Learning Assesses and Develops

Renzulli Learning is built around seven canonical durable skills — the same skills Illinois’ PaCE Framework grades 6–12, College and Career Pathway Endorsements, ESSA CCRI, 16 Career Clusters, 10 Illinois CTSOs, and Work-Based Learning Continuum demand. Each skill has a specific Renzulli instrument that measures it and a specific platform feature that develops it:

Critical Thinking

Measure: CTC
Develop: SEM Type III PBL

Creativity

Measure: CTC (US Patent 12,087,176)
Develop: Enrichment Database + PBL

Executive Function

Measure: EFA
Develop: PSP cycles + PBL planning

Leadership

Measure: Leadership Assessment
Develop: CTSO-aligned PBL + group projects

Collaboration

Measure: Leadership Assessment
Develop: Group PBL + peer feedback

Communication

Measure: 21st-century skills rubrics
Develop: PBL presentations & portfolios

Self-Direction

Measure: Profiler + EFA
Develop: PSP year-round goal cycles

Illinois' diploma pathway

The Illinois Diploma: 16 Units + PaCE + CCPE + CCRI

Illinois high school graduation is anchored by the 16-unit minimum (105 ILCS 5/27-22), the PaCE Framework grades 6–12, College and Career Pathway Endorsements, and the ESSA CCRI. Renzulli Learning develops the durable skills behind each pillar:

16 Units
105 ILCS 5/27-22 Minimum
English 4, math 3 (incl. Algebra I + geometry content), science 2 (lab science Class entering 9 in 2024-25+), social studies 2 (incl. U.S. history + 1 sem civics), 1 yr art / music / foreign lang / voc ed, plus daily PE, 18 wks health, 9 wks consumer ed, computer literacy, computer science (Class of 2023-24+), Constitution test. Districts may require more.
EFA + PBL build sustained academic skills
PaCE
Postsecondary & Career Expectations
Public Act 102-0917 (HB 3296): districts other than CPS shall adopt and commence implementation of a PaCE Framework for grades 6–12 by July 1, 2025 (CPS by July 1, 2024), or formally opt out. Three pillars: career exploration & development, postsecondary education, financial aid & literacy.
Profiler informs PaCE; PSP complements grades 6–12
CCPE
College & Career Pathway Endorsements
110 ILCS 148/80: ILP + career-focused instructional sequence (≥ 6 hrs early college credit) + professional learning (≥ 2 career exploration activities or 1 intensive, ≥ 2 team-based challenges, ≥ 60 hrs supervised CDE + skills assessment) + academic readiness for non-remedial reading + math.
All 4 assessments + SEM Type III PBL + PSP
CCRI
ESSA College & Career Readiness Indicator
Illinois ESSA State Plan: multi-factor measure recognizing CCPE attainment, AP/IB scores, dual credit, industry credentials, military readiness, 25 hrs community service, and the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework.
EFA + Leadership Assessment + PSP support all paths
Real challenges

What Illinois Counselors & CTE Coordinators Struggle With

These are the durable-skills-and-career-readiness challenges we consistently hear from Illinois educators implementing the PaCE Framework, CCPE, CCRI, 16 Career Clusters, and Work-Based Learning Continuum:

Sustaining the multi-year individualized learning plan from grade 6 forward

The PaCE Framework expects every student to have an individualized learning plan starting in middle school, and CCPE requires students to develop and periodically update one including resume and personal statement. Districts need durable-skills measurement and development tools that produce evidence across grades 6–12.

Operationalizing CCPE: ILP + sequence + WBL + academic readiness

110 ILCS 148/80 requires students to complete an individualized plan, a career-focused instructional sequence with ≥ 6 hrs early college credit, professional learning (career exploration + team-based challenges + 60 cumulative hours of supervised CDE + skills assessment), and academic readiness. Counselors need year-round data on student strengths, executive function, and career interests to coordinate all four pillars.

Connecting students to Illinois CTE — 16 Career Clusters and 10 CTSOs

Illinois CTE is organized into 16 National Career Clusters in Programs of Study aligned to Perkins V FY 2025–2028, administered by ISBE through 53 EFE systems. Counselors need year-round data on student strengths and interests to guide informed Cluster selection and CTSO participation across BPA, DECA, Educators Rising, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, Science Olympiad, SkillsUSA, and TSA.

Measuring the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework

The Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework and Self-Assessment is used as the Professional Skills Assessment for CCPE supervised career development experiences. Districts need durable-skills tools that measure teamwork, professionalism, communication, and other competencies with year-round evidence.

Operationalizing the Work-Based Learning Continuum

ISBE’s WBL Continuum progresses from career awareness through exploration to development experiences (internships, school-based enterprises, supervised agricultural experience, cooperative ed, research apprenticeship) to youth apprenticeship (450 hrs paid + 2 sem related instruction) to Registered Apprenticeship. Districts need durable-skills tools with year-round evidence supporting WBL progression.

Honoring Illinois’ Indigenous heritage in K-12 instruction

Illinois was historically home to the Illiniwek Confederacy (Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Peoria, Tamaroa, Michigamea, Moingwena), the Miami, Kickapoo, Sauk, Meskwaki, and Potawatomi peoples. In 2024 the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation became the first federally recognized tribe with tribal land in Illinois (Shab-eh-nay Reservation, DeKalb County). Districts need culture-respectful tools to support diverse learners.

Platform tools

Renzulli Learning Tools Mapped to Illinois’ Durable Skills Demands

Each Renzulli tool maps to specific PaCE pillars, CCPE requirements, CCRI experiential benchmarks, 16 Career Clusters in CTE Programs of Study, and the Work-Based Learning Continuum — producing concrete, exportable evidence of durable skills growth:

Renzulli Profiler: A 20–30 minute student self-assessment for grades Pre-K through 12. Captures each student’s interests, learning styles, and expression styles — the strength-based foundation that powers the individualized learning plan referenced throughout PaCE and CCPE. Surfaces interests across all 16 National Career Clusters in Illinois CTE Programs of Study. Available in 20+ languages, supporting Illinois’ English Language Learners and diverse student populations.
Cebeci Test of Creativity (CTC): A validated, standardized creativity assessment (US Patent 12,087,176) measuring fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. Culture-independent design supports more equitable durable-skills identification across linguistic and cultural backgrounds — particularly relevant for Illinois districts honoring the state’s rich Illiniwek, Miami, Kickapoo, Sauk, Meskwaki, and Potawatomi historical heritage.
Executive Function Assessment (EFA): Measures planning, working memory, self-regulation, and metacognition — the durable skills behind academic preparation in Illinois’ 16-unit graduation minimum. EFA dashboards highlight where students need scaffolding to complete the 16-unit minimum (105 ILCS 5/27-22), demonstrate academic readiness for non-remedial reading and math under CCPE, and succeed in AP, IB, and dual credit pathways recognized by the ESSA CCRI.
Leadership Assessment: Measures the durable skills behind the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework and Illinois CTSO participation: BPA, DECA, Educators Rising, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, Science Olympiad, SkillsUSA, and TSA. Produces measurable evidence districts can use for Perkins V CTE accountability, the CCPE professional skills assessment, the Work-Based Learning Continuum, and the ESSA CCRI.
Personal Success Plan (PSP): A student-driven goal, project, and reflection tracker that builds a portable durable-skills portfolio. Generates exportable summaries that students and counselors use across the multi-year individualized learning plan from grades 6-12 — including the resume and personal statement required for CCPE, supporting documentation for CCRI experiential benchmarks, WBL progression, and pathway completion.
Project-Based Learning (PBL) Tools: Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) Type III investigations produce authentic projects, presentations, portfolios, and reflections — exactly the artifacts Illinois’ CCPE team-based challenges, supervised career development experiences, and CTE Programs of Study capstones expect. PBL simultaneously develops critical thinking, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity.
Renzulli Enrichment Database: Over 40,000 curated, standards-aligned activities matched to each student’s Profiler results — including resources supporting Illinois’ 16-unit course of study, all three PaCE pillars (career exploration & development, postsecondary education, financial aid & literacy), the computer science requirement, the civics requirement, and career-exploration activities for all 16 National Career Clusters in CTE Programs of Study.
21st-Century & Durable Skills Framework: Structured activities and rubrics build all seven canonical durable skills — producing growth evidence districts can use for PaCE documentation, CCPE professional learning, CCRI reporting, WBL Continuum implementation, and Perkins V CTE accountability.
Requirement-by-requirement

Illinois Career Readiness Requirements & Renzulli Durable Skills Platform: Side by Side

PaCE Framework 110 ILCS 148/80 CCPE 105 ILCS 5/27-22 ESSA CCRI 16 Career Clusters 10 Illinois CTSOs WBL Continuum

How Renzulli Learning addresses each core Illinois requirement — with durable skills measurement and development at the center:

Illinois RequirementRenzulli Learning Contribution
PaCE
PaCE Framework Grades 6–12
Public Act 102-0917 (HB 3296): districts other than CPS shall adopt and implement a PaCE Framework for grades 6–12 by July 1, 2025 (CPS by July 1, 2024), or formally opt out. Three pillars: career exploration & development, postsecondary education, financial aid & literacy. Each student should have an individualized learning plan.		Renzulli is the K-12 platform that both assesses and develops the durable skills behind every PaCE pillar. Profiler in 20+ languages surfaces interests for PaCE career exploration grades 6–12. PSP mirrors the individualized learning plan with year-round goal cycles. SEM Type III PBL produces documented artifacts. 40,000+ Enrichment Database covers all three PaCE pillars.
CCPE
College & Career Pathway Endorsements
110 ILCS 148/80 (PWR Act): students must complete (1) an individualized learning plan including resume + personal statement, (2) a career-focused instructional sequence with ≥ 6 hrs early college credit, (3) professional learning (≥ 2 career exploration activities or 1 intensive, ≥ 2 team-based challenges, ≥ 60 hrs supervised CDE + professional skills assessment), (4) academic readiness for non-remedial reading + math.		PSP documents the individualized learning plan, resume, and personal statement. Profiler guides career-focused sequence selection across all 16 Career Clusters. SEM Type III PBL produces team-based challenges and supervised CDE artifacts. Leadership Assessment measures the Illinois Essential Employability Skills used as the Professional Skills Assessment. EFA develops persistence behind academic readiness.
16 Units
Minimum Graduation Program
105 ILCS 5/27-22 minimum: 16 units in grades 9–12 (12 units for 3-year HS): English 4, math 3 (incl. Algebra I + geometry), science 2 (lab science Class entering 9 in 2024-25+), social studies 2 (incl. U.S. history + civics), 1 yr art / music / foreign lang / voc ed, plus daily PE, health, consumer ed, computer literacy, computer science (Class entering 9 in 2023-24+), Constitution test.		EFA develops persistence to complete 16+ units. SEM Type III PBL produces portfolio artifacts. 40,000+ Enrichment Database includes resources for English, math, science, social studies, civics, computer science, computer literacy, consumer education, and art / music / foreign language / vocational education aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards.
CCRI
ESSA College & Career Readiness Indicator
Illinois ESSA State Plan: multi-factor approach measuring readiness at HS graduation. CCPE attainment automatically satisfies the CCRI; the indicator also recognizes AP/IB scores, dual credit, industry credentials, military readiness, 25 hrs community service, and competencies in the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework.		EFA develops persistence behind AP/IB and dual credit success. Leadership Assessment measures the Illinois Essential Employability Skills (teamwork, professionalism, communication). SEM Type III PBL produces capstone artifacts complementing CCPE attainment. PSP documents multi-year evidence supporting CCRI experiential benchmarks.
CTE
16 Career Clusters / 10 Illinois CTSOs
Illinois CTE: 16 National Career Clusters in Programs of Study aligned to Perkins V FY 2025–2028; administered by ISBE through 53 Education for Employment (EFE) systems; 10 Illinois-recognized CTSOs (BPA, DECA, Educators Rising, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, Science Olympiad, SkillsUSA, TSA); CTE concentrators graduate at 97.1%.		Profiler in 20+ languages surfaces interests across all 16 Career Clusters. PSP guides Cluster exploration. PBL produces capstone artifacts. Leadership Assessment supports BPA, DECA, Educators Rising, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, Science Olympiad, SkillsUSA, and TSA leadership preparation.
WBL
Work-Based Learning Continuum
ISBE WBL Continuum: career awareness → exploration → development experiences (internships, school-based enterprises, supervised agricultural experience, cooperative ed, research apprenticeship, remote work, student-led enterprise) → youth apprenticeship (450 hrs paid + 2 sem related instruction) → Registered Apprenticeship.		EFA develops persistence to complete WBL hours. Leadership Assessment measures the Illinois Essential Employability Skills used as the Professional Skills Assessment. SEM Type III PBL produces documented WBL artifacts. PSP documents WBL progression hour-by-hour.
From Illinois educators

What Implementation Looks Like in Illinois Districts

“The PaCE Framework gives us the floor for grades 6–12, but the College and Career Pathway Endorsement under 110 ILCS 148/80 — the ILP plus the career-focused instructional sequence with early college credit plus the supervised career development experiences plus academic readiness — is what we’re really accountable for, and the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework is the durable-skills backbone holding it all together. With Renzulli’s Profiler informing individualized learning plans from grade 6 in 20+ languages, the EFA showing us which students need scaffolding to demonstrate academic readiness for non-remedial coursework, the Leadership Assessment supporting our BPA, DECA, Educators Rising, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, Science Olympiad, SkillsUSA, and TSA students plus producing evidence for the Professional Skills Assessment in our supervised career development experiences, and SEM Type III PBL producing the team-based challenges CCPE expects, our CCRI conversations have finally become evidence-driven.”
Counseling and Career Readiness Coordinator · Illinois school district
For Chicago (CPS), the collar counties & the I-88/I-90 corridors Larger Illinois districts running multiple high schools across the 16 Career Clusters need a single, exportable durable-skills evidence layer. Renzulli’s assessment data, PBL artifacts, and PSP exports support PaCE implementation grades 6–12, CCPE attainment (ILP + sequence + WBL + readiness), CCRI reporting, City Colleges of Chicago and community college dual credit readiness, Illinois Essential Employability Skills documentation, and Perkins V CTE compliance — without disrupting existing ISBE workflows.
For Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, Quad Cities, Carbondale & rural Southern Illinois Illinois was historically home to the Illiniwek Confederacy (Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Peoria, Tamaroa, Michigamea, Moingwena), the Miami, Kickapoo, Sauk, Meskwaki, and Potawatomi peoples. In 2024 the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation became the first federally recognized tribe with tribal land in Illinois (Shab-eh-nay Reservation, DeKalb County). Several Illinois place names — Chicago, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Cahokia — are Indigenous in origin. The Profiler’s availability in 20+ languages, the culture-independent CTC, the 40,000+ Enrichment Database, and the PSP’s goal-tracking workflow let counselors support strength-based ILP development K-12 across rural and urban districts.
Frequently asked questions

Illinois Durable Skills & Career Readiness: Common Questions

Questions Illinois counselors and CTE coordinators ask most often:

How does Renzulli Learning align with Illinois’ minimum high school graduation requirements?
Illinois’ graduation framework is anchored by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and 105 ILCS 5/27-22, which requires a minimum of 16 units in grades 9–12 (12 units for a 3-year HS): English (4), mathematics (3 incl. Algebra I + a course with geometry content), science (2; lab science required for Class entering 9 in 2024-25+), social studies (2 incl. U.S. history + at least one semester of civics), and one year of art / music / foreign language / vocational education. Districts must also provide daily physical education, 18 weeks of health, 9 weeks of consumer education, computer literacy, computer science (Class entering 9 in 2023-24+), and a Constitution test. Renzulli’s seven durable skills map directly to ISBE’s college and career readiness goals. The Profiler in 20+ languages surfaces interests, learning styles, and expression styles. The CTC (US Patent 12,087,176) measures Creativity. The EFA supports academic planning. The PSP generates exportable summaries that complement the individualized learning plan referenced in PaCE and CCPE.
What durable skills does Renzulli Learning develop, and how does that connect to Illinois’ career readiness framework?
Renzulli Learning develops seven canonical durable skills: critical thinking, creativity, executive function, leadership, collaboration, communication, and self-direction. These map directly to Illinois’ PaCE Framework grades 6–12 (Public Act 102-0917; HB 3296), the College and Career Pathway Endorsements under the PWR Act (110 ILCS 148/80), the 16-unit graduation minimum (105 ILCS 5/27-22), the ESSA College and Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI), the 16 National Career Clusters in Illinois CTE Programs of Study aligned to Perkins V FY 2025–2028, the 10 Illinois-recognized CTSOs (BPA, DECA, Educators Rising, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, Science Olympiad, SkillsUSA, TSA), the Work-Based Learning Continuum, and the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework. Renzulli is uniquely positioned because it both measures these durable skills (CTC, EFA, Leadership Assessment, Profiler) and develops them (SEM Type III PBL, PSP, the 40,000+ Enrichment Database, 21st-century skills activities) within a single integrated platform.
How does Renzulli Learning support Illinois’ PaCE Framework?
Public Act 102-0917 (HB 3296) requires school districts other than Chicago Public Schools to adopt and implement career exploration and career development activities in accordance with a PaCE (Postsecondary and Career Expectations) Framework for grades 6–12 by July 1, 2025 (CPS by July 1, 2024), or formally opt out. The PaCE Framework is organized around three pillars: career exploration & development, postsecondary education exploration / preparation / selection, and financial aid & literacy. Each student should have an individualized learning plan. Renzulli’s Profiler in 20+ languages surfaces interests, learning styles, and expression styles for the PaCE career exploration pillar. The Personal Success Plan (PSP) mirrors an individualized learning plan with year-round goal cycles and exportable summaries. SEM Type III PBL produces documented artifacts. The 40,000+ Enrichment Database includes resources for all three PaCE pillars.
How does Renzulli Learning support Illinois’ College and Career Pathway Endorsements (CCPE)?
110 ILCS 148/80 establishes the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act’s voluntary system for school districts to award College and Career Pathway Endorsements on high school diplomas and transcripts. To earn an endorsement a student must (1) develop and periodically update an individualized plan including resume and personal statement, (2) complete a career-focused instructional sequence of two years of secondary coursework or equivalent competencies that articulates to a postsecondary credential with labor market value and includes at least 6 hours of early college credit, (3) complete professional learning consisting of at least 2 career exploration activities or 1 intensive career exploration experience, at least 2 team-based challenges with adult mentoring, and at least 60 cumulative hours of supervised career development experience culminating with a professional skills assessment, and (4) demonstrate academic readiness for non-remedial coursework in reading and mathematics. Renzulli’s PSP documents the individualized learning plan, resume, and personal statement. The Profiler guides career-focused sequence selection across the 16 Career Clusters. SEM Type III PBL produces team-based challenges and capstones. The Leadership Assessment measures the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework competencies used as the Professional Skills Assessment. The EFA develops persistence behind academic readiness.
How does Renzulli Learning support the ESSA College and Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI)?
Illinois’ ESSA State Plan includes the College and Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI), a multi-factor approach to measuring student readiness at high school graduation. CCPE attainment automatically satisfies the CCRI; the indicator also recognizes AP and IB scores, dual credit, industry credentials, military readiness, 25 hours of community service, and competencies in the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework. The EFA develops persistence behind AP, IB, and dual credit success. The Leadership Assessment measures the Illinois Essential Employability Skills (teamwork, professionalism, communication). SEM Type III PBL produces capstone artifacts complementing CCPE attainment. The PSP documents multi-year evidence supporting CCRI experiential benchmarks.
How does Renzulli Learning support Illinois CTE — the 16 Career Clusters, Programs of Study, and 10 CTSOs?
Illinois CTE is administered by ISBE and uses the 16 National Career Clusters in Programs of Study aligned to the Perkins V Plan FY 2025–2028. Illinois recognizes 10 CTSOs: Business Professionals of America (BPA), DECA, Educators Rising, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), National FFA Organization (FFA), HOSA-Future Health Professionals, Science Olympiad, SkillsUSA, and Technology Student Association (TSA). CTE is administered through 53 Education for Employment (EFE) systems, and CTE concentrators graduate at 97.1 percent compared to 87.3 percent for all students. The Renzulli Profiler in 20+ languages surfaces interests across all 16 Career Clusters. SEM Type III PBL produces capstone artifacts complementing pathway completion. The Leadership Assessment supports BPA, DECA, Educators Rising, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, Science Olympiad, SkillsUSA, and TSA leadership preparation.
How does Renzulli Learning support Illinois’ Work-Based Learning Continuum?
ISBE’s Work-Based Learning Continuum progresses from career awareness through exploration to career development experiences (internships, school-based enterprises, supervised agricultural experience, cooperative education, research apprenticeship, remote work for a client or employer, student-led enterprise) to youth apprenticeship (450 hours of paid on-job training under the supervision of a mentor plus at least two semesters of related instruction) to Registered Apprenticeship. The EFA develops persistence to complete WBL hours. The Leadership Assessment measures the durable skills behind the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Self-Assessment used as the Professional Skills Assessment. SEM Type III PBL produces documented WBL artifacts. The PSP documents WBL progression hour-by-hour.
How much does Renzulli Learning cost for Illinois districts?
Renzulli Learning starts at $15 per student per year with full platform access — all four assessments (Profiler, Cebeci Test of Creativity, Executive Function Assessment, Leadership Assessment), 40,000+ enrichment activities, PBL tools, PSP, and ELLA included. Illinois districts can use Title I, II, III, IV, and Perkins V funds where allowable. Custom district alignments are available. Free 30-day trial with no credit card required. View pricing ›
How does Renzulli Learning support equity for Illinois’ diverse learners and the state’s Indigenous heritage?
Illinois is home to a diverse student population. The state was historically home to the Illiniwek Confederacy (Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Peoria, Tamaroa, Michigamea, Moingwena), the Miami, Kickapoo, Sauk, Meskwaki, and Potawatomi peoples. In 2024 the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation became the first federally recognized tribe with tribal land in Illinois when the U.S. Department of the Interior placed portions of the Shab-eh-nay Reservation in DeKalb County into trust for the tribe — 175 years after the U.S. government illegally auctioned off 1,280 acres of Prairie Band Potawatomi land in northern Illinois. Several Illinois place names — Chicago, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Cahokia — are Indigenous in origin. The Renzulli Profiler is available in 20+ languages, supporting Illinois’ diverse student populations including Spanish-speaking learners. The Cebeci Test of Creativity is culture-independent (US Patent 12,087,176). Renzulli complements — not replaces — Illinois districts’ work to teach the rich Indigenous history of the state and to support partnerships with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma (descendants of the Illiniwek), and other federally-recognized tribes whose ancestors lived on Illinois lands.
Official sources

Illinois Durable Skills & Career Readiness Resources

All compliance decisions should reference these primary Illinois sources. Renzulli Learning complements — not replaces — Illinois’ PaCE Framework, College and Career Pathway Endorsements, ESSA CCRI, and CTE Programs of Study.

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