On May 20, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an Executive Order (EO), “Reimagining the Future of the Postsecondary Talent Development System in Colorado,” which builds on the state’s legacy of work to blur the lines between K-12, higher education, and the workforce.

The EO calls for state agencies including the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) to collaborate with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) on reimagining the future of the postsecondary talent development system in the state.

The vision put forward in the EO builds upon years of workforce development efforts and directly incorporates recommendations from various state task forces that the governor and Colorado General Assembly have convened over the last five years.

The EO also aims to revolutionize how Colorado approaches talent development by creating a more integrated system connecting education, workforce training, and employer needs, and has the potential to coordinate previously fragmented workforce initiatives across multiple state agencies—ultimately serving the needs of learners, employers and the economy.

“Colorado is a national leader in helping students and workers develop needed skills to enter the job market with credentials and build a successful career,” said Gov. Polis at the EO’s signing. “We’ve broken down barriers to apprenticeships, made it free to attend community college for in-demand credentials, and created new ways to help Coloradans succeed. This Executive Order builds on that work by ensuring our state meets learners and earners where they are and helps Coloradans get a meaningful job. We’re asking how our state agencies and operations can better support Coloradans throughout successful lives and careers.”

The EO builds on the foundation established by the Student Success and Workforce Revitalization Task Force (HB21-1330) and the Secondary, Postsecondary, and Work-Based Learning Integration Task Force (HB22-1215), both of which identified significant gaps in Colorado’s talent development system.

Joel Vargas, Vice President at Jobs for the Future—which authored a case study on Colorado’s efforts to integrate education and workforce policies—praised the new vision.

“Too often, students, job seekers, and employers looking to gain skills are forced to navigate confusing and disconnected pathways from learning to work. Governor Polis’ action today is an exciting step toward breaking down the arbitrary barriers between our education and workforce systems. This sets the stage for a more streamlined, learner-friendly system—that also responds to the needs of employers and Colorado’s economy. This is the kind of bold leadership we have called for in our “Big Blur” work and I hope other states are paying attention,” he said.

The 1330 Task Force, formed in 2021 to address post-pandemic workforce challenges, recommended creating more seamless pathways between education and employment. Not long after the 1330 Task Force issued its recommendations, the 1215 Task Force focused on better integrating high school, postsecondary, and work-based learning opportunities, with particular emphasis on traditionally underserved populations.

Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of the Lumina Foundation, who authored the book “America Needs Talent” that called for the creation of a national Department of Talent, also commended the new direction cast by Gov. Polis.

“The key for Colorado is to focus on what the state’s talent needs are and how best to get there. We should all care a little less about who provides the learning and a little more about what Coloradans know and can do in order to meet their personal objectives and the labor market needs of the state,” he said.

The EO directs:
  • The Executive Directors of CDLE, CDHE, DORA, OEDIT and key Governor’s Office staff to collaborate with the Colorado Department of Education on reimagining the future of postsecondary talent development in Colorado
  • Agency leadership to work with their respective divisions to develop a plan for seamlessly integrating postsecondary education, skills attainment, and training strategies
  • Agencies to jointly report to the governor by December 1, with specific recommendations and evaluations of the current postsecondary and talent system
Key near-term priorities outlined in the EO:
  • Future proofing talent development by investigating and scaling strategies that help postsecondary education and workforce development to be more adaptive and efficient
  • Improving navigation of the postsecondary talent system for learners, employers, community members, and State agencies
  • Increasing postsecondary credential attainment, particularly for students who historically have not connected to postsecondary education or training within six years of high school graduation
  • Reduce bureaucratic barriers to cross-functional education and training

I would be delighted to talk with any of our readers about the new executive order and the vision that will set Colorado on a trajectory to create a more navigable system to connect learners with good jobs and opportunity in the Centennial State. Reach out to me with questions.

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