Illinois has, for the past five years, served as a bellwether for the nation in terms of overall enrollment in postsecondary education. Given this, Illinois can serve as a reference point for other states looking to better understand how to face current challenges. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) worked in collaboration with the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling and the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) to host a convening at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) on Dec. 9, 2024. This event brought together a diverse range of K-12 and higher education policy and practice stakeholders to address short- and long-term challenges and opportunities in the wake of the court’s decision. The convening focused on identifying opportunities to address barriers to equity in the major areas of recommendation for state and federal policy listed in NACAC’s joint 2022 report with the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), Toward a More Equitable Future for Postsecondary Access. This Elevate Equity: Illinois report details the key takeaways and learnings from that convening.
