Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative

@iwerc.bsky.social

IWERC’s mission is to work with community partners across the state to research and co-construct solutions to the most pressing issues in the cradle-to-career, education-to-workforce ecosystem.

@iwerc.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 1:53 PM

Our new report looks at how equity gaps in dual credit and Advanced Placement coursework changed in Illinois after launch of an automatic enrollment policy. The greatest participation increase was for English Learners (ELs) in AP coursework. Learn more: iwerc.education.illinois.edu/dual-credit/

Graph showing AP participation rates of All students and English Learners.

@iwerc.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 2:30 PM

⭐ NEW REPORT ⭐ Today we released an analysis of dual credit (DC) and Advanced Placement (AP) coursework participation trends before and after a new automatic enrollment policy in Illinois took effect. Read the report: iwerc.education.illinois.edu/dual-credit/

Cover of new report: Automatic Enrollment in Illinois

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 22, 2026, 3:03 PM

IWERC recently published a descriptive landscape report on Illinois rural and high-need rural districts and SMT retention in these districts. What did we learn about SMT retention? Swipe to learn more. A research brief and the full report can be found at go.illinois.edu/RuralSMT.

In Illinois, science and mathematics teachers are retained at lower rates compared to teachers overall. 85% is the district average three-year retention rate for teachers of all positions and subjects in high-need rural districts for the 2022-23 school year (SY23). 76% is the district average three-year retention rate for science and mathematics teachers (SMTs) retained as SMTs in high-need rural districts for SY23. Visit https://go.illinois.edu/RuralSMT.

However, SMTs are retained at similar rates for all districts statewide, rural districts, and high-need rural districts. A horizontal bar chart shows district average three-year retention rates for SMTs in SY23. This is 79% for statewide districts, 78% for rural districts, and 76% for high-need rural districts.

A higher share of SMTs in rural and high-need rural districts are assigned courses in additional subjects. This can increase teacher workload burden. A horizontal bar chart shows the percentage of SMTs who teach other subjects. This is 46% for statewide districts, 55% for rural districts, and 58% for high-need rural districts.

The additional courses SMTs teach include social sciences and history, physical health and safety education, and human services.

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 21, 2026, 3:03 PM

As part of a series on science and mathematics teacher (SMT) retention in rural Illinois, IWERC recently released a landscape analysis to understand the characteristics of the SMT workforce. A research brief and the full report can be found at go.illinois.edu/RuralSMT.

Who are the rural science and mathematics teachers for grades 6-12 in Illinois? Rural science and mathematics teachers (SMTs) are more likely to be women and White. Over half of rural SMTs teach a subject other than science or math. Rural SMTs are more likely to be math teachers. Nearly all rural SMTs hold Professional Educator Licenses or Career and Technical Education Endorsements. Visit https://go.illinois.edu/RuralSMT.

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 18, 2026, 3:03 PM

CPS now offers College and Career Pathway Endorsements (CCPE) in all seven endorsement areas. Our latest report found that the CCPE system is key to CPS’s vision of career-connected learning. Learn more: iwerc.education.illinois.edu/career-conne...

Quote from Central Office team member: "CPS is engaging in the College and Career Pathway Endorsement, and we believe that this is very much the recipe for recognizing students that are college and career ready and acknowledging that they have gone through a myriad of opportunities that demonstrate that in a specific field."

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 17, 2026, 3:02 PM

Our newest report on career-connected learning in CPS describes the postsecondary plans of students, showing how these plans vary by career and technical education (CTE) participation. Read more: iwerc.education.illinois.edu/career-conne...

Line graph showing percentage of seniors selecting each Learn.Plan.Succeed pathway, by senior year

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 16, 2026, 3:04 PM

In our newest report with UChicago Consortium on School Research and CPS, we found that CPS district leaders have advanced career-connected learning in part by strengthening existing career and technical education programs of study. Read the report at: iwerc.education.illinois.edu/career-conne...

Stacked column graph showing CTE participation status by grade 9 cohort, 2017-2021

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 4:03 PM

NEW REPORT! In partnership with the UChicago Consortium on School Research and Chicago Public Schools, we released our newest report, focused on Career-Connected Learning. Read the report here: iwerc.education.illinois.edu/career-conne...

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 14, 2026, 3:04 PM

IWERC recently conducted a landscape analysis on science and mathematics teacher retention in rural Illinois. The first step of this study was to understand the characteristics of rural public school districts. Find out more at go.illinois.edu/RuralSMT.

Characteristics of Illinois Rural Districts. In a rural classroom of 15 students,13 identify as White; 7 are from low-income families; and 1 is experiencing homelessness. Visit https://go.illinois.edu/RuralSMT.

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 11, 2026, 3:19 PM

IWERC recently published a descriptive landscape study examining science and mathematics teacher retention in rural Illinois, and in particular, in high-need rural districts. To find out more, go to go.illinois.edu/RuralSMT.

What are the features of rural and high-need rural districts in Illinois? Half of Illinois public school districts are rural. Three in every four rural districts are high need. In high-need rural districts, on average, about half of students are from low-income families; one in 10 teachers is considered out of field; and one in 20 teacher positions is vacant. Map of Illinois public school districts broken out by high-need rural district, rural districts that are not high need, and non-rural districts. Visit https://go.illinois.edu/RuralSMT.

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 2:56 PM

New reports out today! Two new reports from IWERC and NORC at the University of Chicago examine the science and mathematics teacher workforce in rural Illinois. Read the reports here: go.illinois.edu/RuralSMT.

New reports. With funding from the National Science Foundation, IWERC and NORC partnered to examine the science and mathematics teacher workforce in rural Illinois. The first two reports from this series are now available. Visit https://go.illinois.edu/RuralSMT

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 3:03 PM

Among children enrolled in Preschool for All, outcomes varied by program characteristics. Those who attended full-day programs, attended for 2 years, and/or attended in school-based settings had the most favorable outcomes. Read more here: iwerc.education.illinois.edu/kindergarten...

Large text that reads: Among students enrolled in Preschool for All (PFA), those who attended full-day programs, those who attended for 2 years, and those who attended in school-based settings had the most favorable outcomes in kindergarten through Grade 3

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 8, 2026, 3:03 PM

What do people in education, HR, manufacturing, specialty foods, workforce development, civic leadership, and healthcare say about the skills artists bring to their field? Find out in the latest report by the Illinois creative workforce partnership. iwerc.education.illinois.edu/illinois-cre...

“[Artists] understand that inspiration comes from everywhere. I feel like they do their necessary research, they’re resourceful. They can’t just rely on what’s in their brain…they’re absorbing and…they’re really kind of working the plan.” New Creative Workforce Report. Beneath: Name and logos of Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership. Background: Darkened image of a group of actors.

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 4, 2026, 3:02 PM

Kindergarten readiness rates were higher among students who attended Preschool For All (PFA), compared to those who did not, especially among prioritized groups. Read the new IWERC report to learn more about early childhood experiences in Illinois. iwerc.education.illinois.edu/kindergarten...

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 3, 2026, 3:03 PM

A new report by the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership looks at what employers, recruiters, and other workforce intermediaries say about the skills artists bring to a variety of fields. iwerc.education.illinois.edu/illinois-cre...

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 2, 2026, 3:02 PM

Preschool For All successfully enrolled its priority students - those who are FRPL-eligible, are English Learners, or have an IEP - at higher rates. Read the new IWERC report to learn more about early childhood experiences in Illinois. iwerc.education.illinois.edu/kindergarten...

@iwerc.bsky.social Sep 1, 2026, 3:03 PM

What do employers, recruiters, and other workforce intermediaries say about the skills artists bring to a range of industries? Find out in a new report by the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership. iwerc.education.illinois.edu/illinois-cre...

@iwerc.bsky.social Aug 31, 2026, 2:14 PM

New report out today! Learn what employers say about the skills artists bring to the workplace, the challenges employers or recruiters might face in hiring them, and the mindset shifts that are needed for people to engage this segment of the workforce. iwerc.education.illinois.edu/illinois-cre...

@iwerc.bsky.social Aug 28, 2026, 2:14 PM

Enrollment in Preschool For All (PFA) increased nearly 10% between 2015-16 and 2019-20, led by PFA-Expansion, before dipping at the onset of the pandemic, and then partly recovering in SY2021-22. Read our report to learn more about early childhood experiences in Illinois. go.illinois.edu/KIDS

@iwerc.bsky.social Aug 27, 2026, 5:35 PM

ISBE’s Prevention Initiative programs for children aged birth to three served nearly twice as many families in 2018-19, compared to the previous year, but the number gradually declined afterwards. Read the new IWERC report to learn more: go.illinois.edu/KIDS

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