Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Education Career Pathway Grants are preparing 10,805 future teachers in high schools across the state. The grants expose students of all backgrounds to the experience of teaching and also aim to increase the diversity of the state’s teacher workforce: 45 percent of students in the pathway program identify as Black or Hispanic, compared to just 14 percent of current teachers. ISBE launched the Education Career Pathway Grant program in fiscal year 2020 to help school districts better meet their local teacher pipeline needs. Governor JB Pritzker’s FY 2020 budget added $5 million in state funding for the Education Career Pathway Competitive Grant program. The increase was maintained in FY 2021, FY 2022, FY 2023 to continue supporting the program. Enrollment in all Career and Technical Education programs has increased by five percent or more than 14,000 students since 2017. ISBE has released $18 million in total Education Career Pathways Grants through three rounds of grant funding. A total of 171 high schools now offer Education Career Pathways.  The Education Career Pathways allow students to get a head start on teacher preparation through opportunities for hands-on learning, dual credit, credentials, and mentorship.