Illinois schools join national effort to close achievement gaps, produce more college degrees

Four Illinois universities have joined an ambitious national effort to resolve persistent inequities in higher education. About 130 schools and university systems have signed onto a program directed by the Association for Public and Land-grant Universities in Washington, D.C., officials announced this week. Dubbed “Powered by Publics: Scaling Student Success,” the initiative groups together school leaders to brainstorm ways to improve access to higher education, eliminate achievement gaps among students and boost the number of students earning postsecondary degrees.