Ladders of Opportunity
From parent mentor to paraprofessional — and beyond!
Ladders of Opportunity recognizes and rewards the lived experience of Parent Mentors while meeting Illinois schools’ need for an experienced, culturally competent workforce.
Illinois has more than 2,400 unfilled paraprofessional positions statewide. Schools need qualified support staff, and Parent Mentors already have the classroom experience, community trust, and relationships that make great school employees.
Our Ladders of Opportunity coaches have helped more than 1,100 parent mentors earn Illinois State Board of Education credentials since we began the program in 2023. Many now work as Special Education Classroom Assistants and/or Bilingual Assistants, in classrooms, while others continue their education and are on pathways to become teachers, administrators and other school leaders.
by the numbers: as of spring 2026
As of spring 2026, Ladders of Opportunity’s data reflects three consecutive years of growth:
Ladders of opportunity Credentials earned 2023-26
Participants must pass an exam to earn a credential from the Illinois State Board of Education in each of these categories. Short-term approval roles reflect slightly different guidelines, such as age requirements. Paraprofessional roles include a range of educational support staff positions including teacher assistant, special education classroom assistant, bilingual assistant, etc. Professional educators include classroom teacher and similar roles.
Ladders Prepares parents to work in education
After spending 100+ hours working alongside teachers, many Parent Mentors want to keep growing. Ladders of Opportunity makes that possible. Through Ladders:
Parent Mentors receive individualized coaching, navigation support, and access to resources they need to earn an Illinois state educator license (ISBE credential) and connect to job opportunities in schools.
Schools and school districts fill essential roles for paraprofessionals, special education classroom assistants, substitutes, and more—with candidates who reflect their school communities and bring classroom-based experience.
Interested in learning more about how Ladders works? Find out more on our Stories and Data page.
Are you a Parent Mentor interested in learning more about Ladders of Opportunity? Find out more about how to advance your education career on our Join page.