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State Attainment Working Group

Welcome to the Illinois State Attainment Working Group

Illinois Executive Order 2026-03 establishes a statewide “State Attainment Working Group” focused on preparing Illinois’ workforce and education systems for future economic needs. The order directs state agencies and education leaders to develop a new statewide goal for postsecondary attainment of degrees and credentials of value by 2040 — meaning the percentage of Illinois adults who hold a degree, certificate, industry credential, apprenticeship credential, or other credential of value. This summer, the Working Group is holding regional engagement sessions to gather input on the attainment goal and how to define degrees and credentials of "value."

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Governor Pritzker, in issuing the Executive Order, recognized that by 2031, more than 70% of jobs will require education or training beyond high school, and artificial intelligence and changing workforce demands are reshaping employment needs. Additionally, persistent disparities remain based on race, income, gender, and region. Governor Pritzker emphasized the following priorities in the Executive Order:

  • Workforce development
  • College affordability
  • Career and technical education
  • Apprenticeships
  • Economic mobility
  • Equity in educational access
  • Alignment between higher education and employer needs

By December 1, 2026, the Working Group must submit recommendations to Governor Pritzker and its work, which includes:

  • Reviewing existing workforce and education plans
  • Studying projected workforce needs through 2040
  • Defining what counts as degrees and credentials of "value"
  • Identifying gaps between workforce demand and current educational attainment
  • Recommending statewide and possibly regional attainment targets

Regional Stakeholder Engagement Meetings

Illinois Workforce Regions Map

Working Group Members

Agency Name / Email Title Membership
ISAC Eric Zarnikow
eric.zarnikow@illinois.gov		 Executive Director Education/Workforce
IBHE Ginger Ostro
ostro@ibhe.org		 Executive Director Education/Workforce
ISBE Tony Sanders
tsanders@isbe.net		 State Superintendent Education/Workforce
ICCB Brian Durham
brian.durham@illinois.gov		 Executive Director Education/Workforce
IWIB Sandeep Nain Education/Workforce
IDHS Dulce Quintero
dulce.quintero@illinois.gov		 DHS Secretary Advisory
DCEO Kristin Richards
kristin.richards@illinois.gov		 Director Education/Workforce
IDOC Latoya Hughes
latoya.hughes@illinois.gov		 Director Advisory
IDES Ray Marchiori
ray.marchiori@illinois.gov		 Director Education/Workforce
IDPH (cc) Lee Fiorio
lee.fiorio@illinois.gov		 Senior State Demographer Advisory
Office of the First Lady Willette Benford
willette.benford2@illinois.gov		 Senior Advisor, Office of the First Lady MK Pritzker Advisory