Envisioning a Comprehensive Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness Program Available to All Colorado Students
This week, Accelerate ED, a pathways initiative coordinated by the Education Strategy Group (ESG) and supported by the Gates Foundation, convened education, community, and philanthropic leaders in Denver to kick off the next phase of the national cohort of communities. The event provided a platform to highlight Colorado’s progress in postsecondary and workforce readiness, share best practices from across the country, and explore strategies for a future where every student can access meaningful, career-aligned opportunities.
Colorado Succeeds was honored to participate, with Senior Vice President of Policy & Advocacy, Shannon Nicholas, helping to open the event. She was joined by Sarah Heath, Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs at the Colorado Community College System, and Rebecca Holmes, President & CEO of the Colorado Education Initiative (CEI). Wes Parham, Vice President of Public Affairs at Pinnacol Assurance and Colorado Succeeds board of directors member, served as moderator.
The Big Three
The convening opened with a fitting Colorado-themed metaphor: climbing a mountain together to reach our goal. Wes Parham framed the vision around the Big Three:
By the time a Coloradan turns 21, they will have attained at least one of the Big Three at no cost: an in-demand industry credential, 12 college credits as part of a defined pathway, or a high-quality work-based learning experience.
Shannon stepped back a moment to reflect on Colorado’s journey to this point. Over the past two decades, the state has pioneered policies that expand access to career-connected learning, including concurrent enrollment, industry-recognized credentials, and flexible pathways. These efforts have placed Colorado at the foot of the mountain, well-equipped with the tools for success—but the real climb is just beginning.
“Over the past 20 years, we’ve run the pilots, we’ve tested the ideas, and now we have answers. What we know is this: it shouldn’t be left to chance whether a student’s high school offers these opportunities. It should be a guarantee.”
– Shannon Nicholas
Colorado stands at a critical moment in rethinking high school education—not as a system that merely prepares students for what comes next, but one that actively launches them into their futures.
Building a Coherent System
This is why Colorado is rallying around The Big Three: college credit, industry credentials, and work-based learning.
Sarah underscored that education-to-employment pathways should be seamless, starting with career exploration and leading toward The Big Three, but reminded us that few people’s journeys are linear.
“A career-connected learning experience is more meaningful when it includes an industry-recognized credential, and that credential should also be recognized for prior learning credit—whether at a community college or a four-year institution. As a state, we need to define and unify around the degrees, credentials, and pathways that truly drive economic opportunity and mobility for learners.”
– Sarah Heath
Her point highlights the need for a system that values every learner’s unique path—one where credentials hold weight regardless of when or how a student pursues additional education or enters the workforce. These opportunities shouldn’t be treated as add-ons, but rather as the primary goal of the education system.
“This work can’t just be an ornament on a Christmas tree, or something we do for 20% of kids we’ve already given up on. It has to be at the center of how a school and a school system thinks about its purpose.”
– Rebecca Holmes
Colorado has many strong programs; the next steps are ensuring they work together as a system and all learners have access. That means:
- Stitching programs together into a coherent framework
- Providing clear data to identify what works best and where improvements are needed
- Scaling access so all students can participate
This approach ensures that students graduate not just with a diploma, but with real-world experience, valuable credentials, and a clear path forward—whether in college, career, or both.
Collaboration is Key
Colorado has built the foundation, but the real work lies ahead. The Homegrown Talent Coalition is a group of leaders from nonprofits, advocacy, state agencies, and business collaborating on this work. By strengthening partnerships across education, business, and policy, the state can lay the foundation for a future where these opportunities become the primary purpose of high school, ensuring every learner graduates ready for college, career, and beyond.
