U-46 considers purchasing online career planning tool for students

Elgin-area schools' officials this week discussed purchasing a new online platform to help students with college and career planning and to better track where students go after graduation.

The cost for the Hobsons Naviance program would be $566,297 over five years, or $50,000 less if the district signs a contract with the vendor before the end of November, officials said.

The web and app-based program offers comprehensive career and college planning tools, replacing another system the district sporadically uses known as Career Cruising, which has limited capabilities. Students were having to use other web-based programs and inventories to supplement what the Career Cruising system didn't offer.

Career Cruising did not allow the district to track college applications and scholarships completed, nor keep track of colleges or postsecondary experiences students have been offered.

With the Hobsons program, students would have the capability of sending electronic transcripts, teachers would be able to maintain four-year high school plans with students, and parents would be able to monitor their children's college and career plans. It also would help students identify scholarships and schools matched based on their interests.

"Students will have access to this all the time," said Terri Lozier, assistant superintendent for secondary schools instruction and equity for Elgin Area School District U-46. "Our intent is to begin this in middle school when they start with career explorations. That will actually help them build their high school plan, as well as their post secondary plan. This will streamline our data collection."

Principals and administrators will have access to which classes students are accessing, which colleges and scholarships they have applied for, and how many have been accepted. The district will be able to track how many students pursue further education and how many choose the military and other options.

If approved by the school board next month, officials expect to roll out the program in the 2018-19 school year with training provided to career counselors and teachers next summer.