As Colorado Succeeds looks ahead to 2025, the imperative to sustain and accelerate progress on education and workforce initiatives has never been greater. Thanks to the leadership of the legislature and other elected officials, state agencies, and the innovative work of educators and learning providers across the state, Colorado is uniquely positioned to keep building on these efforts.
This work is critical, as Colorado continues to find itself in a challenging position for our learners and businesses. The data tells a troubling story:
These outcomes continue to be unacceptable, not only for the students striving for economic opportunity but also for the industries eager to cultivate and hire homegrown talent.
In a fiscally challenging environment, where our state must make decisions about its priorities, now more than ever we need to invest in our learners and continue building a talent pipeline that meets our state’s workforce needs.
However, amid these challenges, we’re seeing remarkable momentum and collaboration to position Colorado communities on a path to success. That’s why, in 2025, Colorado Succeeds will prioritize three goals – for both policy and implementation – to drive meaningful progress and ensure our students and workforce are prepared to thrive.
Equip learners and business leaders with data and information about the effectiveness of education and training pathways
Ensure more students, regardless of zip code or race and ethnicity, have access to high-quality pathways that lead to living-wage careers
Enhance employer engagement and alignment to create cohesive, sustainable pathways that meet workforce needs
Goal 1: Equip learners and business leaders with data and information about the effectiveness of education and training pathways
Access to clear, outcomes-driven data is essential for empowering students, families, and businesses to navigate education and career pathways effectively.
With the passage of last year’s legislation creating the infrastructure to connect and make accessible education and workforce data for learners, families, and decision-makers, we look forward to ongoing work with the Office of Information Technology to ensure the Statewide Longitudinal Data System provides meaningful insights.
By providing learners with actionable information about which programs and pathways lead to valuable credentials and certifications, we can help them make choices that offer a clear return on investment for their future success – and ensure our state’s businesses have the homegrown talent they need to thrive.
Our Priorities:
Empower Data-Driven Insights
Ensure Colorado’s longitudinal data system is positioned to provide actionable insights on the long-term outcomes of high school career and college readiness programs, fostering transparency and accountability for learners, families, and policymakers.
Champion Data-Driven Decision-Making
Unify diverse stakeholders to build momentum for continued investment in an independent, statewide office dedicated to providing transparent, actionable insights that shape policy and funding.
Advocate for Quality Credentials & Outcomes-Based Investment
Establish a shared understanding of what makes a credential valuable, creating clarity and alignment across sectors to better serve learners and support workforce development. Partner with the Education to Employment Alliance to champion funding models that prioritize programs delivering measurable outcomes for learners and industries alike.
Goal 2: Ensure more students, regardless of zip code or race and ethnicity, have access to high-quality pathways that lead to living-wage careers
Every student should have the opportunity to succeed in a pathway that leads to a career that provides a living wage, no matter their zip code or background. In pursuit of that goal, Colorado has elevated three postsecondary and workforce readiness outcomes for all high school students in our state:
- Postsecondary credit,
- Industry-recognized credentials, and
- Work-based learning, all along a connected pathway.
We know that these “Big Three” outcomes will equip students with the skills and experience necessary to succeed in postsecondary education and the workforce.
Our Priorities:
Expand Access to Postsecondary & Workforce Pathways
Enhance high school pathways by streamlining administration of programs and aligning accountability systems to focus on meaningful outcomes, such as earning postsecondary credits, attaining valuable industry certifications, or gaining work-based learning experiences before graduation.
Strengthen Transfer Pathways for Learners
Support the effective implementation of transfer policies to ensure smoother transitions for students, with clearer agreements, industry-aligned general education courses, and system-wide solutions that address common barriers for students.
Bridge Policy & Practice for Career-Connected Learning
Support collaboration among educators, nonprofits, state leaders, and industry partners to align efforts on increasing the availability and quality of career-connected learning.
Goal 3: Enhance employer engagement and alignment to create cohesive, sustainable pathways that meet workforce needs
Employers play a critical role in building a cohesive talent pipeline that meets workforce needs and drives Colorado’s economy forward.
Our diverse coalition of employers and intermediaries, representing all different sizes and sectors, will continue to collaborate and foster partnerships between employers, educators, and policymakers. Through this work, we can ensure the creation of sustainable career pathways that align with industry demand and benefit learners, businesses, and communities alike.
Our Priorities:
Advocate for Employer-Aligned Solutions
Partner with the Education-to-Employment Alliance to promote investments in education and workforce priorities that reflect employer needs and ensure long-term economic growth.
Support Regional Talent Development
Collaborate with state leaders to develop seven high-quality regional talent development plans that align workforce systems with employer-validated labor market data, creating shared priorities and goals.
Ensure Business-Driven Policy Implementation
Strengthen business engagement in the rollout of the Credential Quality Apprenticeship Classification framework and expand awareness of incentives and tax credits to grow work-based learning opportunities.
We look forward to working with state legislators and partners from across the state to ensure that Colorado’s education and training ecosystem is ensuring our learners access our growing economy and achieve their full potential.