ENGLEWOOD, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill aimed at building strong career pathways for students. HB24-1364, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, will streamline career pathways for high school graduates.
“With this law, we’re strengthening career pathways that will make it easier for Coloradans to secure good-paying jobs in communities they love,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This law improves student access to high school programs that offer college credits, college credits, industry credentials, or quality work-based learning experiences. Together, we’re investing in our workforce, boosting local economies, and making it easier for our learners to find and succeed in a career that will help them not just get by, but thrive in a well-paying job.”
“To meet Colorado’s workforce and education demands, we need to make it easier for our learners to plan and succeed for their next career steps,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This law creates a data system that will make it easier for Colorado learners, school districts and higher education to connect to college credit, apprenticeship and other work-based learning programs. Our law invests in learners by connecting them to careers that have significant growth and earning potential.”
HB24-1364 will implement recommendations from the 1215 Task Force to help meet workforce demands and foster career pathways for Coloradans. HB24-1364 will create a detailed study to uncover the cost benefits of streamlining the administration and financing of postsecondary workforce readiness programs to state and local education providers.
This law also lays the foundation of a data system to measure the impact and outcomes of education and workforce programs. The data collected by this program will be more accessible to learners, families, and other decision-makers when it comes to choosing a career pathway.