Wanted: Employers for Colorado Work-Based Learning Opportunities

Many thanks to my Whiteboard Advisors ’ colleague Martha Verno for jumping in on Boundless Potential last week with a great early childhood education update and featured Q&A with Tamara (Tammi) Hiler , Special Advisor to Governor Polis on early childhood education. If you missed it, you can read their interview here.

Nothing like coming back to a whirlwind week of activity and updates from across the state – and a wild temperature and weather swing (snow, snow, go away…unless you are skiing, of course).

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden made a stop in Colorado on Monday, praising policymakers for working across party lines to build one of the nation’s models for workforce training. Naturally, given her leadership at community colleges, the First Lady spent much of her time highlighting the ways in which Colorado’s community colleges – and institutions offering associates’ degrees – have helped learners meet some of the most pressing industry needs. In recent weeks, Governor Polis has highlighted that Colorado has two job openings for every Coloradan, prompting the growth of an initiative that provides free training in healthcare. A new piece of legislation would provide free workforce training for learners pursuing study in fields such as manufacturing, law enforcement and teaching.

And for those who celebrate: happy post, post election day. In June, it appears two of the sixteen candidates for Denver Mayor will meet again in a runoff election. Kelly Brough, former CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Mike Johnston, former state senator and educator now lead the field after Tuesday’s election. For the first time in over a decade, the city of Denver will have a new leader – and both candidates have deep experience in education and workforce development policy and practice.

While the mayor does not have direct oversight or responsibility for education, both candidates have strong records of leadership with education to employment issues, school and campus-level leadership and an understanding of the ways in which an educated citizenry positively impacts some of the greatest social challenges facing the city. The runoff election will take place on June 6.

Conference season is well underway – and it would be wonderful to connect with our readers over the next few weeks at two major national meetings: the American Council of Education annual meeting in Washington, DC (April 13-15) or the ASU-GSV Summit in San Diego (April 17-19). If you are attending either meeting, drop me a note and let me know. I would love to connect with you in-person!

Spotlight on Colorado Education and Workforce

Employers Wanted!

Denver Public Schools is seeking new partner companies to participate in the district’s Launch Internship Program this summer. Since 2014, DPS has collaborated with organizations across Metro Denver to bring engaging work-based learning experiences to high school students studying in fields including business, technology, healthcare and engineering. Each summer nearly 300 students participate in either in-person, hybrid or fully-virtual 120-hour paid internships. Most students will have already completed two semesters of coursework aligned with the industry in which they are placed. DPS staff will assist intern supervisors with program planning and intern selection, as well as continue to support the match over the six weeks of the program.?

DPS is currently seeking host organizations for several Creative Arts (Video/Audio Production or Graphic Design), Medical and Tech student placements.

For more information, please contact Alex Turnacliff, External Partnerships Specialist with Denver Public Schools.

Last week, the?Colorado Department of Labor and Employment?announced?applications are open for a new program positioned to encourage Colorado-based employers to implement work-based learning programs. The?Work-Based Learning Incentive Program?provides help with the start-up costs of developing a work-based learning program, including training funds that can be used in partnership with institutions of higher education or other training providers.?

Colorado-based employers can?apply?for reimbursements of up to $10,000 to expand the number of work-based learning opportunities for youth and adults across the state:?Learning About Work,?Learning Through Work?and?Learning At Work. Both private and nonprofit employers are eligible to apply and funds will be available until May 2024 or when the funds run out. More details?here.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• NEW! Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL): A Need for Speed: How Community Colleges are Partnering With Industry to Develop Short-Term Credentials That Lead to Good Careers, April 6, 12pm MT (Virtual)
• Colorado Office of the Future of Work: Apprenticeship Fundraising Opportunities, application is now open for Accelerate Apprenticeship Grants, and application will open for Scale-Up Grants on April 7
• NEW! Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL): Cambridge Assessment International Education: Advanced Academics for All Students, April 13, 12pm MT (Virtual)
• NEW! Axios: A Conversation on Skills-Based Hiring, featuring U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, & Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), April 19, 6am MT/8am ET, Hybrid-Washington D.C.
• NEW! Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL): Students’ Lived Experiences in Transferring Credits: New Empirical Research, April 27, 12pm MT (Virtual)
• NEW! Jobs for the Future (JFF): Improving Economic Mobility for Adult Learners Initiative, application for institutions is open now until April 28
• National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA): Mental Health Matters Summit, May 1-2, 10am-2:30pm MT (Virtual); Early Bird registration ends on April 14
• U.S. Mission to the OECD: Diversifying Apprenticeship: Learners, Employers and Sectors, May 3, 8am MT (Virtual)
• BONUS OPPORTUNITY! Netflix’s Love is Blind is now casting in Denver!

What We’re Reading (and Listening To…)

• Podcast: Student Loan Forgiveness In Court with Beth Akers and Adam White, AEI’s The Report Card with Nat Malkus
• Podcast: Colorado Community College System featuring Chancellor Joe Garcia, Colorado Business Roundtable: A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown
• Podcast: Is Improving Reading Instruction a Matter of Civil Rights?, EdSurge Podcast
• The Arbitrary Monopoly Crushing Higher Education, by Robert Manzer with National Review
• Colorado Proposes $1,000 Tax Credit for Teachers to Buy Classroom Supplies, by Hannah Metzger of Colorado Politics
• The Shift in Digital Learning Modalities: Is Higher Education Ready?, by Lindsey Downs of WCET
• Gen Z Loves Google, by Erica Pandley of Axios
• Political Polarization is Sorting Colleges Into Red and Blue Schools, by Nick Anderson of The Washington Post

Colleagues on the Move

• Nicole Siegel is the new Senior Program Officer of Postsecondary Communications at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, per Politico’s Morning Education. She was previously the Director of Advocacy for Social Policy, Education and Politics at Third Way.
• Emmi Navarro has been promoted to Senior Education Advocacy Adviser at Third Way, and Ben Cecil has joined the think tank as a Senior Education Policy Adviser. He was formerly an Associate Analyst at the American Council on Education.
• NEW! Multiple positions with the Rose Community Foundation, including Director of Jewish Community Grants & Partnerships, Denver, CO.
• NEW! Digital Media Communications Officer with the Walton Family Foundation, Denver, CO.
• NEW! Director of Grants and Partnerships with the Colorado Department of Law, Denver, CO.
• NEW! Vice President of Political and Legislative Affairs with the National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH), Location flexible.
• NEW! Associate Director of Higher Education with the Bipartisan Policy Center, Washington D.C.
• NEW! Dean of Learning and Instruction with Calbright College, Remote.