Donate to Alignment Collaborative for Education

Support the Work of Alignment

Thank you for your donation to Alignment to support students graduating academic and career ready prepared for the future workforce. Donations like yours have enabled Alignment to:

Reach more than 15,000 students with career planning resources across School Districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303.
Contribute 13,258 volunteer hours in our partner school districts representing an investment of over $800,000 to the schools and the region.
Grow paid summer internship placements in 11 high schools by 66% partnering with Northern Kane County Region 110 and Elgin Community College’s Taking Back the Trades grant.
Expand as part of the Elgin United Way Neighborhood Network opportunities for students and families to access career planning services while also beginning to address the critical challenge of youth mental health and wellness.

These milestones would not be possible without your financial investment. We share a commitment to collaboratively bring schools and communities together to positively impact the future workforce. With your investment, we prepare students today with their families to ensure a future of economic and social prosperity.

Support the Work of Alignment today!

What’s New

Celebrating Another Incredible Summer of Student Success

August 5, 2026

As schools open and students return to the classroom, 307 students are beginning the new school year with greater confidence, valuable real-world experience, and a much clearer vision for their future after high school. Together, our partners made an extraordinary investment in the future of our region.

Alignment, Northern Kane County Region 110, and Central Unit School District 301 Partner to Introduce Drone Internship

July 27, 2026

This summer, the Alignment Collaborative for Education partnered with Northern Kane County Region 110 and Central Unit School District 301 to launch its first-ever Drone Internship, providing students with hands-on experience in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the aviation industry while helping shape the future of career and technical education in Northern Kane County.

Help Us Find Our Next Community and School Program Coordinator

July 14, 2026

Alignment is seeking an energetic and passionate individual committed to future workforce development who can plan and deliver coaching and career preparation planning and programming for students residing in school districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303. This planning and programming must be inclusive of the business community to include organizations representing business, municipalities, non-profits, post-secondary, and school district personnel. Candidate must have an appreciation for working effectively within the diverse community that Alignment serves.

This Summer Marks a Milestone for Our Healthcare Internship Program

July 9, 2026

More than 500 applications were received in preparation for the healthcare summer internship program. A record number of over 70 paid internships were made available by the local healthcare community.

What a Difference a Week Makes!

June 28, 2026

As summer continues, we’re excited to share more snapshots of our interns as they gain valuable hands-on experience with our host companies across the region. From exploring career pathways to developing new skills and making meaningful contributions in the workplace, these students are building experiences that will shape their futures. We’re grateful to our host companies for investing in the next generation of talent and providing opportunities for students to learn, grow, and thrive. Stay tuned as we continue highlighting our interns and the impact of this summer’s internship program!

The First 12 Days of Internships

June 19, 2026

This summer, Alignment and Northern Kane County Region 110 teamed up to place more than 300 high school interns at over 100 host company locations across the region. The internships kicked off in early June and will continue through early July, giving students hands-on experience in a variety of career fields. Along the way, we’re capturing snapshots of these talented interns in action and sharing highlights of their real-world work experiences.

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