Harold Hodgkinson observed that in our system of education, the students are the only ones who see all of it ("All One System"). The Illinois Aligned Education Plan is a work in progress that proponents say will diminish the chasm between the two levels of education and create the beginnings of a seamless system.

The development of an Aligned Illinois Education Plan is part of the "Change in Education Initiative," a national project sponsored by the MetLife Foundation and coordinated by the Education Commission of the States. The project is coordinated by the Illinois Community College Board and the Office of the Governor in cooperation with the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and the Joint Education Committee. Also participating in the project are legislative leaders and representatives from the Illinois Departments of Corrections, Employment Security, Human Services, and Professional Regulation.

A task force representing the three levels of education was convened last spring to begin preparing the plan. The three education boards share common goals and objectives and each sector has important goals that cannot be achieved without the assistance of other sectors.

Identification of these common goals provides new opportunities for increased cooperation among the sectors of education for the education boards to work together at the state level and for schools, colleges, and universities to forge alliances at the local level to pursue a common vision and shared priorities. Further, there are opportunities for education and human services agencies to work more closely to provide comprehensive support for learners most likely to be left behind. Toward this end, the Aligned Illinois Education Planning Task Force is focusing on "things that we can do better together" and identified a shared vision and common priorities that will serve as the focus of cooperative efforts.

The purposes of the Aligned Illinois Education Plan and the analysis of education plans and policy statements suggest the following questions for consideration by the Aligned Illinois Education Planning Task Force:

These questions served as a starting point for the deliberations of the Aligned Illinois Education Planning Task Force in its consideration of Illinois education system as a whole, rather than separate sectors, and development of an aligned plan "to meet the needs of Illinois' current population and the changing environment."

A report and recommendations will be available in the spring. www.iccb.state.il.us