Colorado is exploring a major structural change that would reshape how students, educators, and job seekers interact with the state’s education and training systems. A new proposal recommends merging the state’s Colorado higher education reform and workforce functions into a single Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. The goal is to help residents move more easily between college pathways, skills training, and programs that prepare them for future careers.
Gov. Jared Polis presented the findings at Colorado State University Spur, emphasizing that the current system has become overly complex. Students and families often struggle to understand their options after high school, making Colorado higher education reform a priority. The proposed merger would combine programs from seven state departments into one central agency, including the Colorado higher education reform department, the state apprenticeship agency, adult education programs, and the workforce development council.
Many Students Struggle to Navigate Their Options
The proposal highlights a major challenge for Colorado. Too few residents are earning the credentials needed for today’s jobs. About half of the state’s high school graduates enroll in college. Even fewer complete a credential or degree. Many older adults also find retraining or upskilling programs difficult to navigate.
Students now face a large number of choices. Colorado offers more than 300 apprenticeships, 4,500 training programs, and over 10,000 degree options. This wide range helps support different learning needs, but the abundance of programs often adds confusion. Many students cannot easily identify the path that matches their goals. Teachers and counselors also work across disconnected systems, making it harder to give clear guidance.
According to state leaders, a unified department could simplify these pathways. Shared data, consistent policies, and clearer accountability may help schools, colleges, and training providers coordinate more effectively. Better coordination could also help students receive timely information about programs and support services.
What the Proposed Department Aims to Improve
Colorado employers continue to look for more trained workers, and many roles now require advanced skills. More than 73 percent of jobs in the state need some level of education after high school. The proposal suggests that improving talent pathways inside the state could help more students move into growing fields such as health care, technology, skilled trades, and advanced manufacturing.
The recommended department is designed to give students clearer guidance and help adult learners understand their options. It would also link education programs more directly with career opportunities. Teachers, school leaders, and program coordinators would have opportunities to give input as the state studies how to structure the new agency.
The proposal says a more coordinated system would help students move smoothly from high school to college or training and then into the workforce. A single department could reduce confusion for families, make program information easier to find, and help more Coloradans build the skills needed for long-term success.
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