CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The Champaign Unit 4’s College and Career Readiness team received its first Illinois State Board of Education Pathway Endorsement in education.
The Education Pathway Endorsement is designed for students pursuing careers in education. Graduates of Unit 4 who fulfill the requirements will receive an Education Pathways Endorsement. The Career Technical Education Education Career Pathways Grant aims to increase teacher diversity in the future. Illinois has faced a shortage of educators of color, with a teacher workforce less diverse than its student population.
Students in the program will participate in field experiences and work-based learning. They will gain a head start on their journey to become teachers by earning dual credit, industry certification, and microcredentials to demonstrate teaching competencies. The grant also increases awareness of the teaching profession through career exploration activities and student leadership organizations. Data shows that initiatives like these are producing results.
The teach profession has grown within the past seven years. However, teacher supply has not kept pace with demand and the 2023-24 school year had over 4,000 teaching vacancies.
To learn more about CTE Education Career Pathway Grant, visit ISBE’s College and Career Grants webpage.