Illinois PaCE: Resource Materials

Below are the various resources available for students, families, and educators to support students in making an informed decision about college and career planning. We are working on updating our resources to reflect the changes and extension of the Illinois PaCE Framework that became effective as of July 1, 2023.

For Administrators, Counselors, and Educators
PaCE Information
PaCE Implementation Process
For Students, Parents, and Educators
For Communities

For Administrators, Counselors, and Educators

PaCE Information

• UPDATED! Illinois PaCE Framework
  Counselors, administrators, teachers, and other educators can use this document to identify what types of experiences and information a student should have to make the most informed decisions about college and career planning. The framework is made up of a middle school framework and a high school framework.
  • The middle school portion of the Illinois PaCE Framework is organized from 6th through 8th grade. The framework explains what a student should be exposed to and what a student should be supported to do at the end of each grade level relative to three key domains: Aspiration; Self-Advocacy; and, Planning. These are fundamental experiences for a student to be able to interact with the high school framework.
  • The high school portion of the Illinois PaCE Framework is organized from 9th through 12th grade. The framework explains what students should be supported to do and what they should know at the end of each grade relative to three key domains: Career Exploration and Development; Postsecondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection; and, Financial Aid and Literacy.
    
    
• UPDATED! PaCE Framework Templates
  • Middle School Template 
  • High School Template 
  
  School counselors, administrators, and more can use the templates above to create a PaCE-aligned framework to guide the college and career readiness efforts for their schools/district/organizations. These templates mirror the layout of the Illinois PaCE Framework, for both middle and high school. Each template is editable so that users can customize the benchmarks and include a logo.
  
  Visit the PaCE Customized Framework Examples page to view customized PaCE frameworks from high schools/districts/organization across Illinois. If a school, district, or community would like their framework to be added, send a copy of the framework to isac.pace@illinois.gov!
  
  
• UPDATED! PaCE Crosswalk 
  This crosswalk illustrates the overlap between the Illinois PaCE benchmarks, the College and Career Readiness Indicators (CCRIs), and the College and Career Pathway Endorsements (CCPEs).
  
  
• UPDATED! Illinois Career Pathways Dictionary
  In Illinois, career pathways are administered by many different entities. This website, developed by several state education and workforce committees, provides agreed-upon definitions to foster alignment across agencies, legal frameworks, and initiatives.
  
  
• PaCE Support Request Form
  High schools and other community organizations can use this form to request PaCE support from ISAC. Support options include the PaCE Overview presentation and PaCE Framework Development Workshops.
  
  
• PaCE Implementation Guide
  This resource provides extensive guidance to counselors, school district administrators, and other college-access professionals on best practices for adopting a PaCE Framework, garnering stakeholders' support, developing a plan for implementation, and more.
  
  

PaCE Implementation Process

Step 1: Take an Inventory

Use the following set of worksheets when completing the first step of the PaCE implementation process, Take an Inventory. These worksheets  directly align with the Illinois PaCE Framework; each worksheet focuses on one of the three key domains.

• Career Exploration and Development Benchmarks 
• Financial Aid and Literacy Benchmarks 
• Postsecondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection Benchmarks 

The following set of worksheets are customizable, so that they can be edited to align with a customized PaCE framework.

• Career Exploration and Development Benchmarks (customizable)
• Financial Aid and Literacy Benchmarks (customizable)
• Postsecondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection Benchmarks (customizable)

Step 2: Prioritize Gaps

Use the following worksheet to complete the second step of the PaCE implementation process, Prioritize Gaps.

• Step 2: Prioritize Gaps 

Step 3: Action Plan

Use the following worksheet to complete the third step of the PaCE implementation process, Action Plan.

• Step 3: Action Plan 

For Students, Parents and Educators

• UPDATED! Illinois PaCE Student Checklist
  This checklist aligns directly with the benchmarks listed on the Illinois PaCE Framework. This resource can be used by students to help guide them through the college and career planning process from 9^th – 12^th grade.
• Check out what students have to say, in these videos created by members of the Student Advisory Council for the Illinois Education and Career Success Network.
• Ashley Smith from John Hersey High School talks about the PaCE Student Checklist
  
• Karel Pene from Evanston High School displays the infographic classmates created summarizing what they felt were the most important aspects of the PaCE Student Checklist
  
• Joanna Renado from North Chicago High School shares resources available to students for postsecondary planning, including resources on the ISAC Student Portal, the Illinois Postsecondary Profiles tool, and the PaCE Student Checklist.
  

For Communities

• On PaCE to Thrive Community Guide
  This guide offers a process, including sample activities, for communities to cultivate college and career readiness using the PaCE Framework.