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Workforce Diploma Pilot Program

About

The Workforce Diploma Pilot Program (WDPP) was established in 2019 to support Colorado adults without a high school credential. This program provides financial incentives for eligible providers who are able to re-engage adults and support them in obtaining a high school diploma and other credentials. This was a three-year pilot; all funding for the 2021-22 program year has been distributed already. The Colorado General Assembly is currently deciding if the program will be continued indefinitely with HB22-1009.

Authorizing Legislation (PDF)

2020-21 Legislative Report (PDF)

2019-20 Legislative Report (PDF)


Qualified Provider List

These providers meet the requirements outlined in the law to provide high school diplomas at no cost to adult learners. Some providers have other programs available where adults can earn other types of certificates. See the table below to find a provider that may meet your needs. A reminder that the law says an adult that can participate in this pilot program must:

  • be at least 21 years old,
  • be a resident of Colorado, and
  • not have a high school diploma.

Jump to a provider:

Broomfield Library Career Online High School

The Broomfield Library and Broomfield Workforce Center partner to provide Career Online High School, which allows adults the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and career certificate online and provides access to career placement services.

Broomfield Library Career Online High School website 

Phone: 720-887-2326

Email: eknox-stutsman@broomfield.org

Location(s)

City and County of Broomfield residents or employees of the City of Broomfield. Residents of surrounding counties that do not provide the Career Online High School program may be eligible to participate.

Provider-Defined High School Diploma Graduation Requirements

Students must successfully complete a total of 18 credits (which may include a combination of credits earned through Career Online High School and transferred credits from another accredited institution) in the following areas in order to receive a high school diploma and career certificate:

  1. English (4 credits)

  2. Social Studies (3 credits)

  3. Math (3 credits)

  4. Science (3 credits)

  5. Health/PE (1 credit)

  6. Career Elective Course (4 credits)

Additional Services Offered

Employability Skills Certificate(s):

Career Online High School issues a certificate in 10 career areas that include skills desired by employers. These include:

  • Certified Protection Officer

  • Childcare & Education

  • Commercial Driving

  • Food & Hospitality

  • General Career Preparation

  • Home Care Professional

  • Homeland Security

  • Hospitality & Leisure

  • Office Management

  • Retail Customer Service

Industry Recognized Credentials:

  • N/A

Colorado Mountain College

Colorado Mountain College aspires​ to be the most inclusive and innovative student-centered college in the nation, elevating the economic, social, cultural, and environmental vitality of our beautiful Rocky Mountain communities. Colorado Mountain College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and offers 5 Bachelors, 54 Associates and 77 Certificates. Colorado Mountain College offers services such as career and academic advising, tutoring, testing, counseling, and academic instruction.

Colorado Mountain College website
Phone: 970-947-8312
Email: aymyrick@coloradomtn.edu

Location(s)

Campuses in:

  • Aspen
  • Breckenridge
  • Dillon
  • Leadville
  • Carbondale
  • Chaffee County

  • Glenwood Springs
  • Rifle
  • Steamboat Springs
  • Spring Valley
  • Salida
  • Vail Valley at Edwards

Provider-Defined High School Diploma Graduation Requirements

Complete a diploma by achieving the required scores on one of the following assessments: ASVAB, ACT WorkKeys and Accuplacer.

Students in the Workforce Diploma Pilot program will also have the option to enter one of the selected industry certificate training programs in conjunction with their high school diploma provided they meet the CTE program's entrance requirements.

Additional Services Offered

Employability Skills Certificate(s):

Industry Recognized Credentials:

  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Phlebotomy
  • Early Childhood
  • Basic Culinary Skills
  • Welding

GlobalEd Solutions

GlobalEd Solutions (GES) is a Colorado Public Benefit Corporation that provides educational and management services to schools, districts, and in the case of adult education, the general public. GES operates AIM Global, an Alternative Education Campus, and Immersion School, which are blended learning programs serving students throughout Colorado. They also operate GlobalEd Solutions Unlimited, an adult education program for students over 21 that leads to a High School Diploma.

GlobalEd Solutions website
Phone: 1-855-695-3354
Email: unlimited@globaled.one

Provider-Defined High School Diploma Graduation Requirements

  • Career Now for 21 and over with few high school credits - 18 credits

    • English: 4 Credits (3 ACT Workkeys Classes & Reading Achievement Level Required)
    • Math: 3 Credits ( 2 ACT Workkeys Classes Required)
    • Science: 2 Credits
    • Social Studies: 3 Credits (US Government Required)
    • Electives: 6 Credits (ICAP, WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate , & ACT Workkeys Class Required)
  • General Plan for those with a number of existing high school credits - 24 credits

    • English: 4 Credits
    • Math: 3 Credits
    • Science: 2 Credits
    • Social Studies: 3 Credits (US Government Required)
    • Health: 0.5 Credits
    • PE: 0.5 Credits
    • Electives: 11 Credits ( WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate Required)

* Both require scoring Bronze or higher on the ACT WorkKeys Test to receive a high school diploma and meet Colorado Department of Education guidelines.

Additional Services Offered

Employability Skills Certificate(s):

Industry Recognized Credentials:

  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Information Tech: CompTIA A+

  • Information Tech: CompTIA+ Network+

  • Culinary Arts: National Restaurant Association ServSafeFood Handler

Graduation Alliance

Since 2007, Graduation Alliance has partnered with more than 200 state agencies, school districts, community colleges, workforce boards, and employers around the country to recruit, re-enroll, educate, and mentor students. Graduation Alliance provides youth and adults the opportunity and support they need to earn an accredited high school diploma, acquire essential career, life, and job skills, and pursue industry-recognized credentials.

Graduation Alliance website
Phone: 720-640-2722
Email: learnmore@graduationalliance.com

Location(s)

Online:

Graduation Alliance can accept Colorado residents from any part of the state and issue an accredited high school diploma and industry-recognized credentials.

Provider-Defined High School Diploma Graduation Requirements

Students complete 20 high school credits in the following courses:

  • 2 credits in Career and Technical Education
  • 0.5 credits in Ed Tech
  • 3 credits in English
  • 0.5 credits in Financial Literacy
  • 2 credits in Health/PE

  • 2 credits in Math
  • 2 credits in Science
  • 2.5 credits in Social Studies
  • 1 credit in Art
  • 4.5 Elective Credits

Students may complete a diploma by achieving the required scores on one of the assessments approved by the Colorado Department of Education OR by completing a district capstone or receiving an industry-recognized credential.

Additional Services Offered

Employability Skills Certificate(s):

  • Graduation Alliance issues its own Employability Skills Certificate that can be included in a jobseeker portfolio

Industry-Recognized Credentials:

  • Certified Production Technician
  • Certified Logistics Technician
  • Microsoft Office Specialist
  • QuickBooks Certified User
  • Child Development Associate

  • CompTIA A+
  • CompTIA IT Fundamentals
  • OSHA-10 (Construction/Helper)
  • ServSafe Food Manager Certification
  • Caregiver Core

McLain Community High School - Jefferson County Public Schools

McLain Community Adult High school provides student of age 18+ the opportunity to obtain a Jefferson County Public Schools Diploma. McLain offers direct taught daytime classes and independent study night classes. Each setting has counseling, mental health, and career support services for students in addition to academic support.

McLain Community High School website - Jefferson County Public Schools
Phone: 303-982-3813
Email: Timothy.Ebendick@jeffco.k12.co.us

Location(s)

Physical Location: 13600 W. 2nd Pl. Lakewood, CO 80228

Provider-Defined High School Diploma Graduation Requirements

Accumulate a minimum of 23 credits and demonstrate knowledge of English and Math Credits include

  • 4 credits of English Language Arts,
  • 3 credits of Math (1 Algebra and 2 Geometry or higher),
  • 1 credit of World History,
  • 1 credit of U.S. History,
  • .5 credits of Geography,

  • 0.5 credits of Economics
  • 0.5 credits of U.S. Government,
  • 0.5 credits of Physical Education (PE),
  • 3 credits of lab based Sciences,
  • 0.5 credits of Fine/Practical Arts, 8.5 Elective credits

Students may take the SAT, ACCUPLACER, or ASVAB to demonstrate readiness for their diploma.

Additional Services Offered

Employability Skills Certificate:

  • N/A

Industry-Recognized Credentials:

  • Construction certificate
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

McLain also partners with Warren Tech, which offers more than 25 different career pathways for students to earn industry credentials and career focused instruction for in demand industries.

Mesa County Libraries Adult Learning Center

The mission of the Adult Learning Center is to provide adult literacy and learning opportunities in the  community through an enriching and effective process that enables both non-English and native English speakers to increase their self-sufficiency. The Adult Learning Center offers education programs to adults at no charge. Classes are taught by trained instructors and involve one-on-one or small group instructions for adults looking to improve reading, writing, math, and study skills. Help is available to get a high school diploma (GED and Career Online High School), complete the citizenship exam, and learn English as a second language (ESL).

Mesa County Libraries Adult Learning Center website

Phone: 970-683-2431

Email: jprice@mcpld.org

Location(s)

The Mesa County Libraries Adult Learning Center is located within the Central Library (443 N. 61 St, 81501) in Grand Junction, Colorado. This library serves as the main hub for all the library services provided to all of Mesa County. The library also has branches in 7 locations throughout the county (Clifton, Collbran, De Beque, Fruita, Gateway, Orchard Mesa, and Palisade). 

The program is online through Career Online High School but learners may be required to attend in-person sessions or activities and must be within the library's service area.

  • Central Library - 443 N. 6th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501

  • Clifton Branch - 590 32 Road, #6F (Mesa Pointe Shopping Center), Clifton, CO 81520

  • Collbran Branch - 111 Main Street, Collbran, CO 81624

  • De Beque Branch - 730 Minter Avenue, De Beque, CO 81630

  • Fruita Branch - 324 N. Coulson, Fruita, CO 81521

  • Gateway Branch - 42700 Highway 141, Gateway, CO 81522

  • Orchard Mesa Branch - 230 Lynwood Street, Grand Junction, CO 81503

  • .Palisade Branch - 119 W. 3rd Street, Palisade, CO 81526

Provider-Defined High School Diploma Graduation Requirements

Students must successfully complete a total of 18 credits (which may include a combination of credits earned through Career Online High School and transferred credits from another accredited institution) in the following areas in order to receive a high school diploma and career certificate:

  1. English (4 credits)

  2. Social Studies (3 credits)

  3. Math (3 credits)

  1. Science (3 credits)

  2. Health/PE (1 credit)

  3. Career Elective Course (4 credits)

Additional Services Offered

Employability Skills Certificate(s):

Career Online High School issues a certificate in 10 career areas that include skills desired by employers. These include:

  • Certified Protection Officer

  • Childcare & Education

  • Commercial Driving

  • Food & Hospitality

  • General Career Preparation

  • Home Care Professional

  • Homeland Security

  • Hospitality & Leisure

  • Office Management

  • Retail Customer Service

Industry Recognized Credentials:

  • N/A

Pikes Peak Library District Adult Education

PPLD Adult Education provides Career Online High School, an accredited online high school diploma and career certificate. Career certificates are available in 10 different fields.

Pike's Peak Library District's service area, which is most of El Paso County, except for Security/Widefield.

Pikes Peak Library District Adult Education website
Phone: 719-531-6333 x7225
Email: uciara@ppld.org

Location(s)

The program is online through Career Online High School but learners may be required to attend in-person sessions or activities and must be within the library's service area.

  • Cheyenne Mountain Library - 1785 S 8th St #100, Colorado Springs, CO 80905
  • East Library - 5550 N Union Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
  • Fountain Library -230 S Main St, Fountain, CO 80817
  • High Prairie Library - 7035 Old Meridian Rd, Peyton, CO 80831
  • Library 21c - 1175 Chapel Hills Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
  • Manitou Springs Library - 701 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
  • Monument Library - 1706 Lake Woodmoor Dr, Monument, CO 80132
  • Old Colorado City Library - 2418 W Pikes Peak Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
  • Palmer Lake Library - 66 Lower Glenway St, Palmer Lake, CO 80133
  • Penrose Library - 20 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
  • Rockrimmon Library - 832 Village Center Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80919
  • Ruth Holley Library - 685 N Murray Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80915
  • Sand Creek Library - 1821 S Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80916
  • Ute Pass Library - 8010 Severy Rd, Cascade, CO 80809

Provider-Defined High School Diploma Graduation Requirements

Students must successfully complete a total of 18 credits (which may include a combination of credits earned through Career Online High School and transferred credits from another accredited institution) in the following areas in order to receive a high school diploma and career certificate:

  1. English (4 credits)
  2. Social Studies (3 credits)
  3. Math (3 credits)
  4. Science (3 credits)
  5. Health/PE (1 credit)
  6. Career Elective Course (4 credits)

Students have 18 months to complete their diploma. View detailed curriculum.

Additional Services Offered

Employability Skills Certificate(s):

Career Online High School issues a certificate in 10 career areas that include skills desired by employers. These include:

  • Certified Protection Officer
  • Childcare & Education
  • Commercial Driving
  • Food & Hospitality
  • General Career Preparation

  • Home Care Professional
  • Homeland Security
  • Hospitality & Leisure
  • Office Management
  • Retail Customer Service

Industry Recognized Credentials:

  • N/A

Pueblo City-County Library District

At the Pueblo City-County Library District we believe that learning is a life-long adventure. Our Adult Learning Program provides adults (18 and up) with opportunities to increase basic skills in reading, writing, and math; prepare for High School Equivalency (HSE) tests; learn English; improve/increase civic engagement; and develop the skills to transition to continuing education and jobs. Our friendly staff and patient and committed volunteer Learning Coaches (LCs) create a supportive environment that encourages growth, achievement and success.

Pueblo City-County Library District website
Phone: 719-553-0206
Email: Rebecca.mcghee@pueblolibrary.org

Location(s)

The program is online through Career Online High School but learners may be required to attend in-person sessions or activities and must be within the library's service area.

  • Main Branch - 100 E. Abriendo Ave. Pueblo, CO 80014

Other locations may be available.

Provider-Defined High School Diploma Graduation Requirements

Career Online High School graduation requirements are as follows:

  1. English (4 credits)
  2. Social Studies (3 credits)
  3. Math (3 credits)
  4. Science (3 credits)
  5. Health/PE (1 credit)
  6. Elective Courses (4 credits)

Students must successfully complete a total of 18 credits noted above but they can transfer in up to 14 credits. View detailed curriculum.

Additional Services Offered

Employability Skills Certificates:

  • N/A

Industry-Recognized Credentials:

  • N/A


Eligible Provider Participation & Timeline

To be eligible for this pilot, providers must be:

  • A public, nonprofit, or private accredited, diploma-granting institution with at least two years of experience providing adult dropout recovery services, including recruitment, learning plan development, and proactive coaching and mentoring; or
  • A local education provider (defined in C.R.S. 22-10-103(7) as an entity that provides appropriate and effective adult education and literacy programs recognized by the Department of Education).

As outlined in the law, eligible providers have the opportunity to provide a response to a Request for Qualifications once a year. Per C.R.S. 22-10.3-103(2), a Request for Qualifications must be issued by August 15 in any fiscal year in which the General Assembly appropriates money for this pilot program. 


Helpful Resources:


Questions?

Please contact the Office of Adult Education Initiatives at either AEI@cde.state.co.us or (303) 866-6640 for further assistance.