Key Takeaways

• SchooLinks has been successfully implemented in Huntley District 158, providing opportunities for embedding college and career readiness into the curriculum.
• The alignment of SchooLinks with the PACE framework has allowed for a structured approach to college and career exploration and planning.
• SchooLinks has improved student engagement and data collection, making tracking student progress easier and providing personalized support.
• Collaboration between departments, such as counseling and CTE, has been key to successfully implementing and utilizing SchooLinks.

Alignment with the PACE Framework

In the heart of Illinois, Huntley Community School District 158 embarked on a mission to equip its 8,500+ students with the tools they needed to navigate their college and career paths confidently. The district knew it needed a strategic solution with the state's impending PACE Framework implementation looming. Enter SchooLinks, a modern college and career readiness platform that promises seamless integration with existing systems.

Myka Kennedy, Director of Curriculum, spearheaded the initiative. Recognizing the diverse needs of their student body, which included a significant population with IEPs and low-income backgrounds, Myka envisioned a three-year plan. This plan would establish a robust college and career framework seamlessly woven into the fabric of SchooLinks functionalities.

The key was aligning SchooLinks with the upcoming PACE Framework requirements. Myka and her team identified the platform's assessments and activities as the perfect springboard. They strategically embedded them within existing courses like creative communications, a mandatory elective for students in grades six through eight.

This strategic placement resulted in a beautiful progression. In grade six, students used SchooLinks' "top skills" and "learning skills" assessments while introducing classmates, fostering self-awareness and communication skills. Grade seven saw students delve into the "would you rather" assessment, imagining their future selves. This naturally led to the "game of life" activity in grade eight, where they crafted speeches for their future selves, solidifying their aspirations.

However, the power of SchooLinks goes beyond structured activities. It motivated educators to see beyond just test scores. The platform provided a holistic view of each student, considering their interests, skills, and aspirations. This comprehensive profile allowed counselors and teachers to offer personalized guidance, ensuring each student received the support they needed to thrive.

The results were clear. Student engagement skyrocketed, with thousands logging into SchooLinks compared to the mere hundreds their previous platform attracted. This surge in engagement was a testament to the platform's user-friendliness and its ability to connect with students on a deeper level.

‍Implementation of SchooLinks

A pleasant outcome of adopting SchooLinks was that it seamlessly integrated into Huntley's high school curriculum. The platform found its home within flexible homeroom sessions, which allowed for targeted interventions. These sessions utilized SchooLinks for four-year planning solutions, video presentations, and student activity tracking.

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) team also embraced SchooLinks to connect students with work-based learning opportunities and employers. Students could track their high school experiences within the platform, aligning perfectly with the counseling department's college and career readiness goals.

The shift from their previous platform to SchooLinks was transformative. Student engagement skyrocketed, fueled by the platform's user-friendly interface and seamless single sign-on. Gone were the days of struggling with student access and data wiping. Now, students could actively track their own progress, revisiting assessments like "Would you rather" and "find your path" year after year. This allowed them to see their evolving interests and skills and fostered a sense of ownership over their journey.

Myka highlighted the beauty of this progression. Students were empowered to change their minds and explore different paths while SchooLinks diligently tracked their growth and emerging trends. This valuable data will be further analyzed in the coming year, allowing educators to personalize student experiences further. Creating opportunities for future activities and support by pinpointing areas of consistent interest, ensuring each student received the guidance they needed to thrive. SchooLinks transcended being a simple platform; it became a powerful tool for self-discovery and growth within Huntley's curriculum. As students actively engaged with the platform, they better understood themselves, their aspirations, and the possibilities ahead.

Beyond the core curriculum, SchooLinks seamlessly integrated into Huntley's post-secondary planning efforts. Financial literacy, a crucial college and career readiness component, found a strong foothold within the platform.

"We utilize SchooLinks in our personal finance course," Myka Kennedy, Director of Curriculum, explained. "The 'Game of Life' activity, initially used in eighth grade, is revisited in sophomore, junior, and senior years. By then, students have a clearer sense of self and can delve deeper into college costs, return on investment, and other financial considerations."

This emphasis on financial literacy resonated throughout the curriculum, empowering students to make informed decisions about their futures.

‍Collaboration in College and Career Readiness

Collaboration with the community was another key aspect of Huntley's success. McHenry County College (MCC) emerged as a valuable partner, not only for dual credit and dual degree programs but also for bolstering SchooLinks' reach.

"MCC acts as the workforce hub for the region," Myka described. "Through the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium, we've connected with over 200 people, including every high school, 80+ employers, and 14 community organizations. This consortium allows us to host learning sessions with various industry partners, who can post opportunities directly on SchooLinks."

This collaborative spirit extended beyond Huntley's borders. "We don't just say, 'Hey, this is something for Huntley,'" Myka emphasized. "We connect opportunities with all our partners in McHenry County, where over half the schools utilize SchooLinks. By encouraging companies to post opportunities across multiple districts, we maximize student access and ensure a wider talent pool for employers."

Cross-departmental collaboration proved vital within the district itself. The counseling and CTE departments, central to college and career readiness initiatives, found natural synergy through SchooLinks.

"These departments utilize SchooLinks in slightly different ways," Myka explained. "The CTE team focuses on career pathways, work-based learning, and employer connections, while counselors prioritize college searches, scholarships, and financial literacy. However, they recognize significant overlap in the skills they cultivate."

Regular meetings and training sessions fostered a collaborative environment. "There was no 'this is my thing, this is yours' mentality," Myka remarked. "Both departments entered with open minds, recognizing the potential for their visions to converge. This collaborative spirit has significantly streamlined the integration process."

As SchooLinks gained traction, its user-friendly nature encouraged organic adoption across the district. "New logins often spike, and I can often trace them back to a specific class," Myka shared. "This indicates that teachers from various disciplines are discovering the platform's usefulness and integrating it into their lessons, further expanding its reach within our curriculum."

Huntley Community School District's story exemplifies the power of collaboration. By strategically utilizing SchooLinks, fostering cross-departmental partnerships, and actively engaging the community, they created a robust college and career readiness ecosystem that empowered each student to chart their unique path towards a fulfilling future confidently.

"We can move forward, not backward, thanks to SchooLinks."

-Myka Kennedy, Director of Curriculum - Huntley CSD #158

‍Future Goals and Advice for Other Districts‍

Huntley Community School District 158 was on a mission. They wanted to revolutionize their college and career readiness program, but the old system was cumbersome and collecting data felt like pulling teeth. Enter SchooLinks, a platform that promised a smoother, more efficient way to track student progress.

Myka, a key figure in the implementation, remembers the transition fondly. "It was one of the smoothest we've ever done," she remarks. SchooLinks became the one-stop shop, effortlessly collecting data on student activities, work experiences, and course participation. This eliminated the previous struggle and ensured consistency.

But the benefits went beyond data. SchooLinks was designed to be engaging. Its user-friendly interface and visually appealing design enticed students, teachers, and even parents to participate actively. This led to a surge in the amount of information students accessed, empowering them to make informed decisions about their futures.

Looking ahead, Huntley plans to further integrate SchooLinks with their PACE framework, making it the central hub for all college and career readiness initiatives. Myka's enthusiasm is infectious. "It's changed how we do business," she declares. "We can move forward, not backward, thanks to SchooLinks." Their story is a testament to the power of the right platform to transform the way schools prepare students for the world beyond.

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