Friday Forum

Friends Don’t Let Friends Offer High-risk Dual Credit
- Patty Zuccarello from Zuccarello & Associates
- Click here to view recording
- In the world of dual credit, not all courses are created equal. Some lay a strong foundation for CTE or transfer pathways, while others provide limited value. Creating a rubric helps clarify which courses truly benefit students. In this interactive session, we’ll explore a three-tier rubric for evaluating dual credit courses, focusing on their alignment to multiple career pathways and other key factors. You’ll leave with actionable tools to identify high-value, low-risk courses and differentiate the high performers from the rest. Additionally, we’ll address critical financial aid considerations as they relate to dual credit coursework.

A Story of Success: Instilling Hope & Pursuing Economic Advancement through Intentional Transitions Support for ELLs
- Heather Davis & Sarah Taylor from World Relief Chicagoland
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- This session will highlight two essential components for effective transitions of adult English learners (ELs) into postsecondary, credentialing, and career attainment opportunities: SMART goal driven long-term career mapping and the role of trauma-trained success coaches. Implementing trauma-informed practices in contextualized learning environments is crucial for sustainable goals development and career attainment among ELL populations. Additionally, the ability to develop SMART goals and create long-term career plans that connect to industry-aligned learning pipelines are vital elements of successful and holistic transitions programs.

Rethinking Work-Based Learning
- Jennifer L. Lara from Waubonsee Community College
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- This session highlights Jennifer Lara's work as Program Manager for the Waubonsee Works Program, a WIOA-funded out-of-school youth program. By focusing on the needs of high school- and college-age customers with significant barriers to their education, Waubonsee has developed systems that it can share with other entities facing similar challenges.

Illuminating Progress
- Jay Brooks and Mitchell Gaffney from ICCB
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- This session will focus on data resources available to examine adult education enrollment and progress across Illinois as well as look at trends across WIOA core partners. The session will highlight an interactive dashboard that helps explore enrollment with demographic data in adult education and review the state’s progress in reaching WIOA targets.

Doubling Retention in Distance Learning for NRS 1 & 2 ELLs
- Presented by: Sarah Taylor and Liz Clinton, World Relief Chicago
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- Running online English classes is no longer optional, it’s essential for equitable access and student safety. Many adult ELLs cannot attend in-person classes due to transportation, shiftwork, safety, and childcare, yet online learning brings its own challenges: device access, reliable Wi-Fi, and digital literacy. To make remote instruction truly effective, programs must think holistically, integrating support for technology use and scaffolding digital skills alongside language instruction. This comprehensive and proven approach enables low-NRS-level learners to succeed, improves overall retention, and equips immigrant communities with the tools they need for economic stability and full participation in society in an achievable setting.

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