UPDATE: Colorado has just announced a groundbreaking investment of $5.6 million aimed at enhancing higher education in rural areas. Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) revealed this significant funding package, designed to expand work-based learning opportunities and tackle educational inequalities.
The grant package is primarily funded by a generous $5.5 million commitment from Ascendium Education Group, with an additional $100,000 contribution from the Strada Education Foundation. This initiative, part of House Bill 25-1186, is a vital bipartisan effort aimed at bridging the gap for students in remote locations who face unique challenges in accessing educational resources and economic opportunities.
Dr. Angie Paccione, executive director of CDHE, emphasized the urgent need for this funding, stating that Colorado’s rural sectors encounter “limited access to educational resources, economic opportunities, and support services.” The initiative aims to swiftly eliminate financial barriers by leveraging state work-study resources to support credit-earning internships and other practical experiences.
The legislation is particularly focused on reducing persistent disparities faced by students in rural areas, enhancing connections between education and market-ready skills. The CDHE’s Office of Educational Equity, Workforce and Social Mobility will manage these grants, with ambitions to reshape educational support in these underserved regions.
As the state works to implement these funds, attention will be on developing a consortium to scale work-based learning opportunities across Colorado. This move is expected to yield immediate benefits for first-generation college students and help establish a more equitable educational landscape.
What’s Next: Stakeholders will be monitoring the rollout of this initiative closely, as the CDHE aims to promote institutions that serve a high number of first-generation students. With a focus on mental health frameworks and career-connected campuses, this funding is set to make a significant impact on the lives of countless students in Colorado’s rural communities.
This urgent investment reflects a growing recognition of the need for equitable access to education, and the focus now shifts to how effectively these funds can be utilized to create lasting change. Share this news to spread the word about this vital development in Colorado’s educational landscape!
