Alliance for College and Career Student Success

These pathways allow students to move seamlessly from high school to college-level courses in specific career fields. An ACCSS committee composed of college and district members work to develop pathways that align with regional employer expectations, meet state-defined competencies, and promote student preparation for regional employment opportunities. Course maps identify high-value dual credit courses to help students earn college credit while still in high school.

• Regional Course Map - Business & Financial Services - PDF
• Regional Course Map - Information Technology - PDF
• Regional Course Map - Health Sciences and Technology - PDF
• Regional Course Map - Education - PDF
• Regional Course Map - Manufacturing & Engineering Technology - PDF

ACCSS supports the Postsecondary & Career Expectations (PaCE) framework adopted by D509 school districts.

ACCSS works together to promote events such as First Lecture at ECC, College and Career Readiness workshops, career fairs, tours, and placement testing. College and Career Readiness workshops explore a wide range of topics such as:

• Transitioning to College
• Paths after High School
• Winning an Interview
• The Young Job Seekers’ Workshop
• Soft Skills Workshop: Essential Skills for Career Success
• Exploring Careers
• Introduction to Budgeting, Saving, and Financial Goal Setting
• Study Skills
• Time Management Skills

D509 schools also collaborate with ECC’s Upward Bound and Talent Search TRIO programs to prepare students for postsecondary careers.

Transitional courses created by ACCSS allow students to demonstrate college readiness by taking courses at their high schools that replicate outcomes from college developmental courses.

College-district agreements allow students who succeed in the courses to advance to the appropriate college-credit-bearing courses that correspond with the transitional courses.

High school instructors who teach transitional courses attend ECC training sessions to review curriculum and instructional strategies.

ACCSS members continually seek areas of collaboration to expand dual credit opportunities for students in CTE and transfer courses.

Dual credit instructors receive one-on-one support from ECC faculty. Elgin Community College follows the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships accreditation standards. This ensures high school college courses meet the same quality and rigor as those on the college campus.

ACCSS utilizes data sharing between districts and ECC, the Illinois Report Card, National Student Clearinghouse, ICCB, and ISBE sources for data analysis. Areas of study include:

• College Readiness rates
• College-going rates
• Degree/Certificate completion rates
• Dual credit participation
• Course success rates
• Demographic differences among students

ACCSS supports the Postsecondary & Career Expectations (PaCE) framework adopted by D509 school districts.

The College Career Pathways Committee works to develop pathway endorsements associated with the PaCE framework.