Students will have access to more work-based learning opportunities, better data to inform their career decisions, and new ways to progress from career training to college degrees, thanks to bipartisan legislation passed out of the Colorado legislature and now being signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis.
“This package of legislation addresses the urgent challenge facing our state’s education-to-workforce system and provides immense opportunities to seed and scale effective strategies to train our future workforce. Colorado Succeeds is dedicated to ensuring industry partnership throughout implementation of these initiatives. Together we can create a more integrated and aligned talent development system for Colorado.”
Scott Laband, President of Colorado Succeeds
“We believe that postsecondary options are a springboard to higher earning potential and this package of legislation advances Colorado’s ability to expand learning and earning opportunities. We applaud the strategic investment of federal funds to take bold steps to reach sustainable change in our postsecondary education ecosystem.”
Jen Walmer, State Director, Education Reform Now
“In a time when our state is facing both a skills gap and a workforce shortage, preparing our young people for career success couldn’t be more important. The legislation enacted this session puts Colorado on a trajectory to address barriers and build a system that is better and faster at helping learners develop skills and access careers. We look forward to the state-wide, industry informed collaborations that will be generated through this work and the opportunity to expand stackable pathways and apprenticeships across Colorado.”
Meaghan Sullivan, Executive Director, CareerWise Colorado
“The recommendations outlined by the 1330 task force and the accompanying legislation will better unlock innovative opportunities for Colorado’s learners and earners by streamlining systems, funding innovative learning opportunities, prioritizing return on investment, and increasing industry alignment with workforce needs. Coloradans will ultimately benefit through increased opportunities and choices for personal and professional success.”
Debbie Brown, President, Colorado Business Roundtable
“The signing of these bills codifies Colorado’s commitment to direct public funding to proven postsecondary and training programs and pathways, based on both user-friendly data and rigorous evaluation. By working together to implement these bills, we can help thousands of Coloradans trapped in poverty earn degrees and land good-paying fulfilling jobs, and ensure Colorado continues to lead on workforce development innovation. I thank Governor Polis and the General Assembly for their leadership.”
Roger Low, CEO, Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative
“This new package of legislation supports our shared vision for a Colorado education-to-workforce system that develops a diverse, talented workforce prepared for current and future jobs, meets economic demands and sustains thriving communities. By working between and among education- and workforce-centric institutions, organizations, and local and state agencies, The Attainment Network ensures a prioritized and sustained focus on learner-centered career-connected experiences. We look forward to mobilizing our many partners to support and sustain these important initiatives.”
Therese Ivancovich, CEO, The Attainment Network
“This legislation is intended to help Colorado students access an education system designed around their individual interests and passions that is connected to their future college and career goals. This critical legislation will make Colorado a national leader and I hope more states can learn from this model when enacting policies designed to place every student on the path to a rewarding career.”
Patricia Levesque, Executive Director, ExcelinEd In Action
“The newly passed legislation is an important step in Colorado’s efforts to meet the needs of workers and learners with the goal of equity and with a spirit of innovation. This legislation recognizes the need for transformative and systemic redesign of our educational systems to offer more students opportunities to earn degrees and credentials and connect to career paths. JFF has called nationally for erasing the divide between high school, college, and careers, and Colorado continues to be a leader in making strides toward such transformation.”
Joel Vargas, Vice President, Programs, Jobs for the Future
Place workforce data in the hands of students and educators. HB1349 will create a statewide student success data system that students can use to understand how different educational and career decisions could affect their future earnings and employment prospects. The data will also help schools, colleges and workforce training providers improve their programs.
Provide incentives for employers to support work-based learning. SB 140 requires the state Department of Labor to partner with other agencies and design incentives for employers to create opportunities for youth and adults to learn on the job.
Invest in talent. HB 1350 establishes a $91 million grant program to understand workforce needs in each region of the state, and support locally led efforts to develop talent that will meet those needs and help the workforce recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Create flexible paths from career training to college degrees. SB 192 requires the state Department of Higher Education to identify at least three high-growth industries, and create “stackable” options for students to develop skills that meet their demand for talent. Students would be able to earn workforce credentials that build toward associate and bachelor’s degrees, and the initiative would expand to support more high-growth industries in later years.
Blur the lines between high school, college and career preparation. HB 1215 would broaden the focus of a state task force focused on early college high schools to reimagine the connections between high school, postsecondary success and career preparation.
Gov. Polis signed HB 1350 and SB 192 today. The other three measures await his signature.
