Springfield, Illinois – State Senator Ed Maloney (D – Chicago) served as one of six commissioners representing Illinois at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) last week, discussing college success and career readiness.

Elaine Johnson, vice president of Academic Affairs & Workforce Development for the Illinois Community College Board, presented the Illinois College and Career Readiness Pilot Program; a program advocated by Sen. Maloney that identifies subjects students need academic improvement in to prevent the need for remedial courses in college. It is run through the Illinois Community College Board and is being conducted in a variety of geographic regions, focusing on students in places with low-income populations that would ordinarily go to four-year colleges or two-year community colleges. “We must partner with our high schools to ensure that students are college-ready when entering postsecondary education, in order for them to have the skills and experience necessary to compete in the global economy,” Johnson said. “This project will address those concerns.”

The goals of the program include diagnosing college readiness, reducing remediation, and aligning high school and college curriculums. The participating community colleges would look at individual ACT scores to identify a student’s deficiencies, and then have the students focus on those areas during their senior year of high school rather than in college.

“Education is key to building a strong economy and a bright future,” said Maloney, Chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. “This program is moving education forward and will increase graduation rates. I am glad to see its progression and I am confident in its success.”