CHICAGO – Mayor Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools today announced that all 10th and 11th grade students at district high schools are being provided with a Learn.Plan.Succeed. (LPS) Progress Report – a new individualized report that provides students and families with a comprehensive report of postsecondary readiness and future pathways. Customized to each student, the LPS Progress Report tracks students’ course requirements, key college readiness benchmarks, potential college and career options, and proposes concrete steps to ensure each student is making progress toward the path of their choice. This is the latest resource the district has rolled out in support of Learn.Plan.Suceed.– the district’s groundbreaking initiative to ensure every student develops a plan for life after graduation, beginning with the class of 2020.

Please click HERE for the full list of the many excellent options in Illinois.

“Chicago’s students know that high school graduation is a milestone, not a destination, and it is up to us to provide them with the resources and guidance they need to succeed,” said Mayor Emanuel. “The LPS Progress Report is an important resource to help our students plan for the future, set goals and reach their potential in and outside of the classroom.”

“Learn. Plan. Succeed. is an initiative centered on equity, and this report is a first-of-its-kind resource to help students engage in thoughtful discussions about their future,” said CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson. “Our aspirations for students extend far beyond graduation day, and we know that with effective supports, like the Learn. Plan. Succeed. Progress Report, all of our students can find success on the path of their choice.”

LPS Progress Report: A Roadmap for the Future

To ensure every student graduates with a concrete postsecondary plan by 2020, every sophomore and junior at district high schools will receive their own  LPS Progress Report, which will help them assess potential college and career pathways. Each progress report includes multiple sections filled with useful information and suggestions, including:  

• College Readiness Guide: Overview of potential college options and each student’s level of competitiveness based on available academic metrics.
• High School Graduation Progress: Progress tracker that outlines the number of credits required and earned for each subject in order to graduate.
• Next Steps: Actionable suggestions students can discuss with their counselor to stay on-track to graduate and prepare for postsecondary opportunities, including applying to scholarships and exploring opportunities to earn college or career credentials. 
• Career Opportunities: Overview of potential career pathways based on students’ interests, which includes degree and certificate requirements for each career as well as colleges to consider.

“As educators, it’s our responsibility to have meaningful conversations with students about their options after graduation,” said CPS CEdO LaTanya D. McDade. “From our educators who teach college-level courses, to our counselors who make college and career goals actionable and accessible, CPS is leading the charge to ensure our students have the support they need to succeed after high school.”

Leading the Nation in Postsecondary Readiness

Learn.Plan.Succeed. is part of the district’s larger effort to prioritize postsecondary readiness for our students. By increasing opportunities for students to participate in programs including AP, IB, dual credit and dual enrollment, while investing in evidence-based resources and supports, CPS students have been able to attain record-high graduation rates (78.2 percent), freshman-on-track rates (89.4 percent), college enrollment rates (64.6 percent), and more scholarship offers than ever before ($1.33 billion).

By increasing access to college-level coursework, more students have the opportunity to earn early college and career credentials, which helps make college more accessible and affordable. In 2018, 46.6 percent of graduates left CPS with at least one early college or career credential – bringing the district closer to the goal of ensuring 50 percent of CPS students graduate with at least one college or career credential.

Learn.Plan.Succeed will launch in 2020 to support postsecondary success for students of all levels by ensuring they develop plans for life after graduation with the support of dedicated professionals. Options for concrete plans include: 4-year or 2-year college, military, job training programs, trades or apprentice programs, gap-year programs or employment. The district has laid significant groundwork to implement LPS and increase postsecondary support for students, including: 

Postsecondary Plans: 66 percent of CPS graduates left school with a concrete plan in 2018.

Postsecondary Navigators: City Colleges of Chicago hired 7 Postsecondary Navigators to help CPS students craft postsecondary plans at 17 schools. 

Chicago College Advising Credential (CCAC): More than 160 HS counselors earned the Chicago College Advising Credential (CCAC) and 64 are currently in the process of earning it. The district is on-track to ensuring every high school has at least one counselor or postsecondary coach with this credential.

College and Career Specialists: CPS hired 8 additional college and career specialists so that every Network has a dedicated specialist to help schools implement the initiative.

Postsecondary Coaches: CPS hired 10 postsecondary coaches to support high school students as they plan for a successful life following graduation. 

The district will continue building, growing and investing in a culture that considers high school as a launch pad rather than a final destination.

Chicago Public Schools serves 361,000 students in 644 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.

###