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Plan: Colorado PYs 2024-2027
Combined Plan C

Section: WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Narrative: III. a. 2. E.

Published
Located in:
  • III. Operational Planning Elements

    The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above.  Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs.  This section must include—

    • a. State Strategy Implementation

      The Unified or Combined State Plan must include–

      • 2. Implementation of State Strategy

        Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—

III. a. 2. E. Partner Engagement with Educational Institutions and other Education and Training Providers.

Describe how the State’s Strategies will engage the State’s community colleges, adult education providers, area career and technical education schools, providers on the State’s eligible training provider list, and other education and training providers, as partners in the workforce development system to create a job-driven education and training system. WIOA section 102(b)(2)(B)(iv). Include how the State’s strategies will enable the State to leverage other Federal, State, and local investments to enhance access to workforce development programs at these institutions.

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2022-2023 (Mod)

Current Narrative:

PARTNER ENGAGEMENT WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 

For several years the CWDC has convened a Policy and Legislation Committee consisting of legislative liaisons and policy experts from multiple state agencies, including the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Education. This body meets regularly throughout the year to discuss legislative solutions to issues facing our education and training system as well as to coordinate efforts in the implementation of new legislation. In addition to this committee, an agency data sharing group has been convened for the past two years that specifically looks at opportunities to leverage information contained within one agency for the benefit of multiple programs and customer bases. This data sharing group played a critical role in the development of the first and second Talent Pipeline Report, which identifies workforce supply and demand to highlight critical gaps in our talent development system and recommends solutions. Recommendations from the latest report include: a) enhancing access to opportunities for quality, lifelong education aligned with the future of work; b) fostering an economy that works for everyone through recognizing work experience and skills with academic credit, reducing barriers to occupational licensure, and developing options for employers to support high cost services (e.g., housing and childcare); and c) focusing resources on scaling and enhancing strategies that have demonstrated results and effectiveness.  

PARTNER ENGAGEMENT WITH OTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROVIDERS 

Through state law, the CWDC added an Education Liaison and a Workforce Liaison in 2016, who will work together to ensure that K-12, community colleges, CTE programs, community-based training providers, and four-year institutions are plugged into career pathways and understand how to use established pathways as a resource for students. The Workforce Liaison position is specifically established to work with all community-based training providers, including entities on the Eligible Training Provider List. Opportunities will be extended to these partners to engage in initiatives and activities to create alignment with the needs of industry as identified through sector partnerships. 

LEVERAGING RESOURCES TO INCREASE EDUCATIONAL ACCESS 

Strong collaboration and engagement across agencies is critical to achieving the aforementioned goals, and there is a shared commitment within state agencies, the Governor’s office, and the state legislature to ensure collaboration works to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans. Since 2013, multiple bills have passed the state legislature that focus on sector partnerships and career pathways and create new funding streams to support demand-driven workforce development activities. 

  • Colorado House Bill 13-1165, Development of a Manufacturing Career Pathway, required that the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) collaborate with the Department of Higher Education (DHE), the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), to design a career pathway for students seeking employment in the manufacturing sector. 
  • Senate Bill 14-205 required that the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) within the CDLE work with the DHE, the CDE, and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) to create a talent pipeline infrastructure for use in creating career pathways for students. 
  • Colorado House Bill 15-1274, Creation of Career Pathways for Students for Critical Occupations in Growing Industries, requires the CWDC, in collaboration and consultation with its partners (including state agencies, Superintendents of local school districts, local Workforce Centers, and industry partners), to design integrated career pathways for growth industries. The designed career pathways must focus on critical occupations in growth industries that do not currently have clearly articulated career pathways. The bill requires partnerships with industry (through regional sector partnerships) and trade associations to inform and drive the development of each pathway. Industry partners must also review each career pathway annually to ensure the pathway remains relevant to the industry and to provide input for ongoing adjustments to the pathway to meet workforce needs. 
  • Colorado HB 15-1170 Increasing Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness creates the position of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Statewide Coordinator (position shall be named the Education Liaison) to work under the CWDC in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). The Education Liaison will work with secondary school districts, area vocational schools, Community Colleges, the CDE, the Department of Higher Education (DHE), and the career and technical education division within the community college system to raise the level of PWR achieved by high school graduates. 
  • Colorado House Bill 19-1236, Workforce Diploma Pilot Program creates the workforce diploma pilot program in the department of education to award completion payments to qualified providers for the attainment of certain outcomes achieved by eligible students enrolled in the courses or programs, including earning high school diplomas, course credits, or industry-recognized training certificates. 
  • Colorado House Bill 19-1294 Transfer Apprenticeship Credit to College Credit, creates a working group that will determine the most efficient and appropriate manner in which to facilitate the transfer of earned construction industry registered apprenticeship program credit to college credit. 
  • Colorado Senate Bill 19-216 High School Innovative Learning Pilot, creates the high school innovative learning pilot program to support school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools (local education providers) in providing innovative learning opportunities to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 (high school students).