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Defined in Illinois

Defined connects classrooms to careers through deeper learning. Our vision is to transform learning environments where every student discovers their potential through authentic learning experiences that bridge education and future success. Explore how the Defined ecosystem aligns with and supports career-connected deeper learning in Illinois!

Illinois & Defined

Defined & Illinois Alignment

Alignment with Illinois Standards

Defined’s content aligns with the Illinois Learning Standards (ILS) including the Illinois Learning Standards for Science (NGSS), English Language Arts, and Mathematics, the Illinois Computer Science Standards, along with the Illinois Individualized Learning Plan. Defined helps bridge classroom content with authentic career applications enabling students to develop and transfer knowledge while building essential future-ready skills.

In addition, Defined supports statewide initiatives such as the Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework, helping districts guide students in exploring careers, setting goals, and tracking readiness for college, career, and life. Our comprehensive ecosystem of career-connected deeper learning resources also empowers schools to advance their Portrait of a Graduate or locally defined graduate profiles through high-quality content and assessments aligned to Illinois priorities.

 

Alignment to PaCE Framework to Meet Student Expectations

Defined Careers directly supports this vision by providing structured, student-centered tools and experiences that align with PaCE expectations. Through comprehensive career exploration modules, virtual internships, and postsecondary readiness activities, students build meaningful portfolios that document their learning and growth over time. The platform empowers students to investigate multiple career clusters, reflect on personal strengths and goals, and connect these insights to informed course selection, postsecondary opportunities, and workforce preparation.

By embedding Defined Careers into the PaCE framework, schools ensure that all students have equitable access to meaningful career exploration and planning. This strategic alignment empowers learners to create individualized learning plans that evolve across grade levels, explore diverse career options while connecting them to postsecondary education and training pathways, engage families in important conversations about financial aid and long-term planning, and graduate with clear, documented pathways that support both immediate career opportunities and lifelong learning goals.

 

Customized Content Catalog for Your Unique Goals

Defined recognizes that every school district has distinct priorities and objectives within the PaCE framework. That's why we offer the option to create a custom catalog of Defined Careers content specifically tailored to meet your goals and requirements. Our team works closely with you to select and organize the most relevant materials that align with your district's vision for student success.

The following materials represent an example of how our comprehensive grades 6-12 content library can be customized to support your PaCE implementation:

6th Grade

Topic

Defined Careers Resource
Aspiration Career Exploration
Self-Advocacy Why am I learning this? Connecting Skills to Career
Planning Career Matching Assessment

7th Grade

Topic

Defined Careers Resource
Aspiration Career Exploration
Self-Advocacy Project Management and Study Skills
Planning

8th Grade

Topic

Defined Careers Resource
Aspiration Career Exploration
Self-Advocacy
Planning

9th Grade

Topic

Defined Careers Resource
Career Exploration and Development
Financial Aid and Literacy
Postsecondary Education, Exploration, Preparation, and Selection

10th Grade

Topic

Defined Careers Resource
Career Exploration and Development
Financial Aid and Literacy Types of College Aid and Scholarships
Postsecondary Education, Exploration, Preparation, and Selection

11th Grade

Topic

Defined Careers Resource
Career Exploration and Development
Financial Aid and Literacy
Postsecondary Education, Exploration, Preparation, and Selection

12th Grade

Topic

Defined Careers Resource
Career Exploration and Development
Financial Aid and Literacy Evaluating Aid and Scholarships
Postsecondary Education, Exploration, Preparation, and Selection

Career-Connected Learning

Defined’s comprehensive career-connected learning platform aligns with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) College and Career Readiness (CCR) Standards and supports the goals of the Illinois Perkins V State Plan. Our resources help districts strengthen implementation of career and technical education (CTE) by connecting academic learning to Illinois’s 17 career clusters and programs of study, ensuring students explore pathways aligned to state labor market demands.

Through engaging hands-on and minds-on projects across all career clusters and pathways, students build career awareness, reflect on their skills and interests, and gain authentic experiences across industries. Defined also supports districts in meeting the Illinois PaCE Framework, equipping students with the knowledge and experience to make informed decisions about their futures—whether entering the workforce, pursuing postsecondary education, or both.

Defined Careers Graphic

Defined Careers Elementary School

Computer Science & STEM

From artificial intelligence to renewable energy, today’s challenges demand strong computer science and STEM skills. Defined helps Illinois educators prepare K-12 students for these high-demand fields through career-connected, deeper learning experiences that bridge classroom concepts with real-world applications.

Defined’s engaging projects align with the Illinois Learning Standards for Science (NGSS) and the Illinois Computer Science Standards, supporting statewide efforts to expand access to STEM and computer science education. Our resources also advance the goals of Illinois’s STEM Learning Ecosystem and initiatives tied to the College and Career Readiness (CCR) Standards, sparking student interest in computer science and STEM careers while equipping them with the future-ready skills needed for success in college, career, and life.

Notable Partnerships in Illinois

ALSIP HAZELGREEN OAKLAWN SD 126 Logo
BROOKFIELD LAGRANGE PARK SD 95 Logo
CENTER CASS SD 66 Logo
CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS Logo
DIAMOND LAKE SD 76 Logo
SD 45 DUPAGE COUNTY Logo
Kankakee School District
LANSING SD 158 Logo
NAPERVILLE CUSD 203 Logo
NORTHERN SUBURBAN SPEC ED DIST Logo
North Shore School District 112
NORTHWESTERN CUSD 2 Logo
PEMBROKE CCSD 259 Logo
RANTOUL CITY SD 137 Logo
SOUTH HOLLAND SD 150 Logo
ST CHARLES CUSD 303 Logo
WASHINGTON SD 52 Logo
WOODRIDGE SD 68 Logo
ZION ESD 6 Logo

 

Explore Our Engaging Career-Connected Projects

Defined provides K-12 career-connected learning opportunities for every student. Our extensive course catalog contains standards-aligned academic programming across all grade levels and subject areas. Our projects actively engage students in hands-on experiences that offer a real-world perspective, mirroring the work of industry professionals to expand career exploration for all students. Check out a few Defined Learning and Defined Careers projects below!

Computer Programmer App Designer
Career-Connected Deeper Learning
Defined Careers Grades K-2

Computer Programmer: App Designer

Students take on the role of an App Designer to create a fun and engaging app for students to use during indoor recess. This app should be educational and something students can play together.
VIEW PROJECT→
Backpack Designer
Career-Connected Deeper Learning
Defined Learning Grades 2-3 Math

Backpack Designer

In this task, students will explore how math and engineering play a significant role in product design. They will be measuring to ¼ inch and determining areas to help design and manufacture a backpack for a specific audience.
VIEW PROJECT→
Veterinary Assistant
Career-Connected Deeper Learning
Defined Careers Grades 3-5

Veterinary Assistant

Students step into the role of a Vet Assistant. Vet Assistants work with pets and their owners. They help take care of sick and hurt pets. Part of their job is to teach pet owners how to care for their pets to keep them from getting sick. Students make sure pet owners have the information they need to keep their pets healthy.
VIEW PROJECT→
Wildlife Biologist
Career-Connected Deeper Learning
Defined Learning Grades 3-5 Life Science

Wildlife Biologist: Bats

Students step into the role of a wildlife biologist studying bats. Acting as an expert, students explore the important role bats play in the environment while working to dispel common myths about these fascinating and beneficial creatures. Students will also explain how bats use echolocation to navigate and survive. Their ultimate goal: to get the public excited about welcoming bats into the neighborhood!

VIEW PROJECT→
Biomedical Engineers
Career-Connected Deeper Learning
Defined Careers Grades 6-8

Biomedical Engineers

Students apply knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological, agricultural, and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.
VIEW PROJECT→
Food Truck Entrepreneur
Career-Connected Deeper Learning
Defined Learning Grade 6 Math

Food Truck Entrepreneur

In this task, students will be creating their own food truck. Students make informed decisions about the food they'll be serving, the truck, and their business strategies. Additionally, students will create equations to create a fuel expense chart and determine profit and income for a monthly budget.
VIEW PROJECT→
Game Designer
Career-Connected Deeper Learning
Defined Careers Grades 9-12

Game Designer

Students step into the role of a Game Designer, designing core features of video games. This role includes specifying innovative game and role-play mechanics, storylines, and character biographies; creating and maintaining design documentation; and guiding and collaborating with production staff to produce games as designed.
VIEW PROJECT→
Forensic Entomologist
Career-Connected Deeper Learning
Defined Learning Grades 9-12 Biology

Forensic Entomologist

Students take on the role of a Forensic Entomologist helping the production staff of a new streaming series create a show focused on forensic science, and specifically how forensic entomology can help to solve crimes.
VIEW PROJECT→

Read the Research

Explore how Defined is connecting classrooms to careers through career-connected deeper learning in Illinois!

Symposium: Driving Student Success with Career-Connected Learning

Symposium: Driving Student Success with Career-Connected Learning

In this webinar, educators from across the country, including Illinois Superintendents Michael Lubelfeld and Nick Polyak, share their insights on how to provide K-12 students with meaningful career-connected learning opportunities that build future-ready skills and expand career pathways.

VIEW THE SYMPOSIUM

Summit: Driving Student Success with Career-Connected Learning

Summit: Driving Student Success with Career-Connected Learning

Educators and thought leaders, including Superintendent Genevra Walters from Kankakee School District in Illinois, share how their districts are effectively implementing deeper learning through project-based learning and STEM.

VIEW THE SUMMIT

Webinar: Early STEM Exposure Through Career-Focused PBL

Webinar: Early STEM Exposure Through Career-Focused PBL

In this webinar, leaders from Kankakee School District in Illinois dive into how they shifted to a career-focused project-based learning model to expose their students to STEM content and careers as early as kindergarten.

VIEW THE WEBINAR

EBook: A Guide to Project-Based Learning

EBook: A Guide to Project-Based Learning

In this EBook, read the research on how project-based learning improves student outcomes, best practices for engaging students in PBL, resources that can help you plan your PBL lessons with ease, as well as testimonials from educators including the Superintendent of Community Consolidated School District 59 in Illinois.

READ THE EBOOK

White Paper: Early STEM Exposure Through Career-Focused PBL

White Paper: Early STEM Exposure Through Career-Focused PBL

Providing students with opportunities to connect STEM skills to the real world early on exposes them to possible career paths and expands their vision of what's possible. Learn about the importance of teaching STEM and focusing on careers within STEM in the early grades, how PBL can help, examples of PBL in action, keys to success, and more along with advice from Superintendent Genevra Walters from Kankakee School District in Illinois.

READ THE WHITE PAPER

Webinar: Empowering Students with Equitable Access to Career Experiences

Webinar: Empowering Students with Equitable Access to Career Experiences

In this complimentary webinar, education thought leaders — including Dr. David Schuler, the Superintendent of Township High School District 214 in Illinois — share insights and resources to help you provide ALL students with equitable access to career exploration and experiences.

VIEW THE WEBINAR

Webinar: Empowering Educators & Students to Meet the New Science Standards

Webinar: Empowering Educators & Students to Meet the New Science Standards

District leaders from Rockford Public School District in Illinois share how they shifted to an interdisciplinary approach in order to align with Illinois's science standards leading to deeper student understanding and achievement.

VIEW THE WEBINAR

White Paper: Empowering Students with Equitable Access to Career Experiences

White Paper: Empowering Students with Equitable Access to Career Experiences

Connecting learning to careers deepens engagement and helps students make more informed decisions about the future. This complimentary guide, featuring the Superintendent of Township High School District 214 in Illinois, explores why schools should empower all students with equitable access to career experiences and describes the keys to doing so successfully.

VIEW THE WHITE PAPER

White Paper: A Guide to Meeting the Performance Expectations of the NGSS

White Paper: A Guide to Meeting the Performance Expectations of the NGSS

Edtech thought leader Jay McTighe and Illinois educators dive into instructional strategies to help students apply their knowledge and achieve the performance expectations of the NGSS.

VIEW THE WHITE PAPER

White Paper: Implementing Competency-Based Education in K-12 Classrooms

White Paper: Implementing Competency-Based Education in K-12 Classrooms

Read this white paper for an outline for implementing competency-based education (CBE) based on the experiences of two districts, including Kankakee School District in Illinois, that successfully transitioned to a competency-based model. 

READ THE WHITE PAPER

White Paper: Connecting Classrooms to Careers Through PBL

White Paper: Connecting Classrooms to Careers Through PBL

Read the research on PBL's impact on student achievement, best practices in incorporating career-focused PBL into your curriculum, tips on helping educators shift from traditional to PBL teaching methods, and more. This white paper features insights and testimonials from the Superintendents of Maine Township High School District 207 and Kankakee School District in Illinois.

READ THE WHITE PAPER

Interested in learning more about how Defined can support Illinois's goals and initiatives?

Ready to see how Defined can transform education in your school or district? Request a demo with Illinois's designated partnerships representative today and witness how our platform bridges classroom learning with future success.

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