DENVER - The Centennial State has long had apprenticeship programs, Pell Grants and other training opportunities for workers - and the pandemic is prompting some new ones as well. Fighting COVID-19 could give some Coloradans an onramp to the health-care field.
The Colorado Public Health Workforce Collaborative aims to train thousands of workers, through contact-tracing apprenticeships that can lead to longer-term careers. Therese Ivancovich, executive director of the Denver Education Attainment Network, said it's one of many workforce development efforts.
"Thinking about these creative ways to embed work experience and the opportunities to give you that next leg up or that next up-skill is happening here in Colorado," said Ivancovich.
She pointed to another promising initiative, called "New Skills Ready." It's gotten $7 million in grant funding from JP Morgan Chase to cities, including Denver, to make job training part of education, from K-12 to post-secondary.
Jamie Merisotis, author of a new book on the future of the workforce and president of Lumina Foundation, said uniquely human traits and capabilities - skills that machines can't master - will be more important in the post-novel coronavirus work landscape.
At least one study estimates the jobs in 40% of COVID-related layoffs aren't coming back. Merisotis said the crisis is a chance to rethink education and workforce training.
"For workers who are looking at job loss right now," said Merisotis, "being able to get back into the learning environment, building your skillset and being able to develop those skills, will better position you for this environment of change going forward."
More than 740,000 unemployment claims have been filed in Colorado since March, and jobs overall have decreased by more than 130,000 since September a year ago.
Merisotis said because Black, Latino and Indigenous workers have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, workforce training must adapt to better serve these communities.
"We need to make sure that building our human work ecosystem takes those individuals into account and does a better job, frankly, than what we've done in the past," said Merisotis.
In a recent poll, 60% of Black respondents said their households face serious financial problems in the pandemic. So did 72% of Latino and 55% of Native American respondents, compared with 36% of Whites.
Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.
get more stories like this via email
An ethics committee in the Republican-led Iowa House has dismissed a complaint filed by a group of community activists against a state lawmaker for his support of the state's Education Savings Accounts.
The accounts allow parents to use public money for their child's private education. Rep. Dean Fisher, R-Montour, has plans to open a private school in his district and voted in favor of legislation to create the program.
Tim Glaza, special projects director for the group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, believes Fisher's vote was clearly a conflict of interest.
"They want to have about 120 students in the school," Glaza pointed out. "If you do the math, that's over $900,000 of public money that will be going to his personal school every year."
While he did not address his plans for a private school in his response, Fisher argued the ethics complaint was politically motivated and said he was fulfilling a campaign promise by voting to create the program.
Supporters of Education Savings Accounts said they know better how to educate their children than public schools and should be able to use their tax dollars to pay for private school. Recent polls show 62% of Iowans oppose such programs, for siphoning money from the public school system.
Glaza called on lawmakers to require Fisher to abstain from voting on future voucher bills.
"They want to expand the voucher program," Glaza outlined. "They could increase the amount. They can expand it to home-school. They can expand what the vouchers can be used for."
Glaza argued any such changes would mean an even bigger hit on public schools. Thirteen states have some form of education savings account or private school vouchers and others are considering them.
get more stories like this via email
This year's high school graduates will be eligible for 14,000 new scholarships offered through Opportunity Next Colorado, a $21 million investment approved by state lawmakers.
Angie Paccione, Colorado Department of Higher Education executive director, said the goal is to set graduates up for success, and fill high-demand jobs that fuel the state's economy. She said 75% of all jobs in Colorado, and 94% of top jobs that pay enough to sustain a family, require some form of education beyond high school.
"Right now just under 50% of our high school graduates are pursuing post-secondary education," she said. "We want to see that number bump up so that our students have the credentials they need to get the job they want."
Members of the Class of 2024 can get a $1,500 scholarship, which Paccione added should cover the entire tuition costs for certificate programs that can be completed in as little as six months. Graduates can explore scholarships and advising available at OpportunityNext.org, a new platform that spotlights Colorado's fast-growing industries and related education and training programs.
The initiative hopes to reach students from school districts with below-average college or trade school enrollment rates, and districts with low rates of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Paccione explained many students never see the financial opportunities that are available for pursuing a degree or credential.
"We're doing a lot of things right now that are targeted at those who are either on the margins of society, or they live in population areas where college has not always been seen as a pathway to success," she continued.
This year's high school graduates can choose from a range of programs that can prepare them for careers as engineers, health professionals, computer and IT specialists, as well as construction, family and social sciences, education, advanced manufacturing and more.
"There's eight different pathways that are high-demand positions. And this would allow people to get the training and education that they need, and get into the workforce, and strengthen the economy. So, we're very excited to offer these scholarships," Paccione said.
get more stories like this via email
The Amesbury School Committee will hear from educators and parents tonight as they rally to prevent more than $2 million in proposed cuts to their schools.
They are asking Kassandra Gove, the mayor and school committee chair, to use any funds at the city's disposal to ensure schools can at least maintain their current level of services.
Cynthia Yetman, president of the American Federation of Teachers Amesbury Local 1033, said schools have worked to support students' mental health but pandemic-related funds have dried up.
"Those types of needs are still there in our district," Yetman pointed out. "We still want to be able to offer those kinds of support."
Yetman noted school operation costs are up and educators, especially paraprofessionals, deserve a living wage. She stressed the town has enough money in reserves to ensure students have what they need. But Gove countered every city department is facing financial hardship.
Gove has proposed a 3% increase in spending, but Elizabeth McAndrews, superintendent of the school district, said it will take at least 8% to continue busing services, ensure ample technology and keep needed support staff.
Kevin Tierney, a teachers' union negotiator and parent of two young boys in the district, worries cuts to music and the arts, library services and after-school programs could cause some families to move elsewhere.
"I firmly believe that how go the schools so goes the town," Tierney contended. "We have to make the investments now, because the price we'll pay later down the road will be so much greater."
Tierney observed the proposed cuts are all parents are talking about at sporting events, birthday parties and day care. The majority, he added, believe the city should increase taxes to ensure students have what they need. Many parents plan to attend tonight's committee meeting to support their students and teachers.
Disclosure: The American Federation of Teachers contributes to our fund for reporting on Education, Health Issues, Livable Wages/Working Families, and Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
click here.
get more stories like this via email