Leaders from the City of Peoria and School District 150 are looking at Rockford for ideas on how to connect students to community resources, like job shadowing.
The not-for-profit Alignment Rockford partners with businesses, government and nonprofits to prepare public school students for college and professional development.
Several leaders from the initiative are scheduled to speak on a panel Fri. The discussion is hosted by District 150 in the hopes of growing similar efforts in Peoria.
District 150 says more than 100 local business and civic leaders are expected to attend.
Interim Superintendent Sharon Kherat traveled to Rockford last fall. Kherat told Peoria Public Radio in Sept. that she wants to develop similar programs to prepare students for careers that also benefit the local economy.
The news comes after the Illinois State Board of Education released dismal PARCC test results, based on Common Core standards. Sixteen percent of District 150 students "met" or "exceeded" standards on the assessment. Twenty-six percent of District students are deemed “college ready" -- that number is based on 2015 ACT test scores.
The Alignment Rockford panel is Fri., Jan. 15 at 1pm at the Jump Simulation Trading Center. Online registration is available here.