July 20, 2023

A CEEMI landscape analysis surveyed Colorado’s ecosystem of publicly funded federal and state workforce development programs.

All told, we found Colorado currently deploys over $700 million across more than 30 different federal and state level workforce training programs and initiatives. Many of these programs represent important investments that could unlock opportunity and a better quality of life for many Colorado families, but the status quo makes it nearly impossible for anyone to reasonably understand the full ecosystem, the many funding opportunities, and how they interact.

June 8, 2023

In “Closing the Middle Skills Gap in Postsecondary Education,” Roger writes about the staggering misalignment of postsecondary education and training programs in the United States, which leaves millions of critical jobs unfilled and millions of Americans missing opportunities for meaningful economic mobility, while reinforcing and exacerbating racial, ethnic and gender inequities in our economy.

Roger offers specific recommendations to improve our public workforce and higher education systems at all levels of government, emphasizing scaling postsecondary and training models proven to be effective for learners.

April 20, 2023

MDRC released a blockbuster report on the six-year follow-up of their randomized controlled trial of the CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) Ohio demonstration. The ASAP model -- a comprehensive student support model - already had rigorous, replicated evidence of dramatically improving associate's degree completion rates, but the findings from this new report from Ohio make the case for ASAP's wider adoption even more compelling. They show that ASAP also substantially increases bachelor's degree receipt and earnings. CEEMI is engaged in productive conversations with local partners to try to bring ASAP to Colorado.

March 8, 2023

A new report from Harvard’s Project on Workforce clearly shows some of the ways in which the current public sector workforce development system under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is failing learners across the country. The report shows that the median WIOA trainee, 9 months after completing a WIOA-funded training program for adult or dislocated workers, earns less than the median U.S. high school dropout. The report also shows that WIOA outcomes are on average worse for women and people of color, and has a host of insights about how the current system works (and, too often, doesn’t). Give it a read!

February 15, 2023

CEEMI facilitated a partnership between Actus Policy Research and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to rigorously evaluate RESEA’s impacts on earnings and unemployment insurance use.

The Actus study, just funded by Arnold Ventures, is a large-scale randomized evaluation that will provide rigorous evidence on the program’s effectiveness and hopefully replicate the positive impacts on earnings and reduced unemployment found from a similar program in Nevada.

January 9, 2023

CEEMI co-hosted a webinar with the Colorado Trustee Network on submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) for Opportunity Now, the funding available under House Bill 22-1350. The Common Group, which is administering the grant program, ran the webinar and answered questions. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent in this first “round” is January 23.

Here is a Q&A document the program administrators released after the webinar, answering questions attendees asked.

December 1, 2022

Applicants can apply for House Bill 22-1350 funding, rebranded as Opportunity Now, via a streamlined, user-friendly, low-time commitment letter of intent with a deadline of 1/23/23.

CEEMI was involved in the program's creation & launch. Through Opportunity Now, Colorado will lead the nation in using one-time federal funds to focus on approaches that lead to proven earnings, increase equity, and meet talent needs across in-demand sectors.

October 4, 2022

Colorado Public Radio report Jenny Brundin released a great new piece: “Certificates and apprenticeships are increasingly a pathway to well-paying technology jobs in Colorado.” The story grew directly from the roundtable CEEMI organized with U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and 3 of our training partners: ActivateWork, CrossPurpose and Climb Hire. It highlights several learner stories, and some great data. The written version of the story also mentions CEEMI’s work.

September 9, 2022

HB 22-1350, for which CEEMI advocated, established the Regional Talent Development Initiative Grant Program, and deploys $91 million in one-time federal stimulus funding in Colorado, with a strong focus on evidence. CEEMI CEO Roger Low was asked to serve on the 9 member steering committee overseeing this OEDIT initiative. The Steering committee convened for the first time on September 9, 2022. Roger will champion a meaningful yet workable and user-friendly approach to evidence and evaluation.

August 31, 2022

Arnold Ventures, a national champion for evidence-based approaches, highlighted some of our recent work. The interview with CEEMI CEO Roger Low (linked below) lifts up the connection between CEEMI’s advocacy over the past year, the Colorado General Assembly’s recent postsecondary and workforce development legislation, and the value of CEEMI’s state level evidence and outcomes advocacy in this space.

August 8, 2022

At a CEEMI organized roundtable, Colorado State Senator Julie Gonzales, Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Monica Duran and Lisa Cutter, and staff for U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper met with current and recent participants from 3 employment social enterprises operating in Colorado (Center for Employment Opportunities, Mile High Workshop and Women’s Bean Project) to learn more and hear their stories.

May 26, 2022

At Denver Community College, Governor Polis signed HB 22-1350 into law, creating a $91 million Colorado talent grant program funded with federal stimulus dollars. The bill includes CEEMI’s amendment prioritizing programs and pathways supported or being evaluated with a rigorous methodology. CEEMI CEO Roger Low said in a joint statement with our partners: “The signing of these bills codifies Colorado’s commitment to direct public funding to proven postsecondary and training programs and pathways, based on both user-friendly data and rigorous evaluation.”

May 13, 2022

6 learners/recent graduates from three high impact, outcome-driven training and workforce programs operating in Colorado (ActivateWork, CrossPurpose and Climb Hire) shared their stories with U.S Senator Michael Bennet. We discussed Senator Bennet's bipartisan Higher Education Innovation Act, which CEEMI has endorsed. The bill would unlock Pell grant and other federal resources for programs beyond traditional 4 year colleges, if (and only if) they can rigorously show long-term learner positive outcomes. Thanks to ActivateWork for hosting and to the Attainment Network for sponsoring this great discussion!

April 13, 2022

Colorado’s State House Education Committee unanimously adopted an amendment proposed by CEEMI to HB 22-1350, bipartisan legislation led by Rep. Julie McCluskie and others to create a new $91 million Colorado Regional Talent Grant Program. Our amendment significantly strengthens the evidence requirements and incentives for this program, favoring applicants with stronger, more rigorous evidence of effectiveness. The bill tracks closely with the first recommendation of the 1330 Task Force, which CEEMI helped draft. You can see our additions to the bill linked below, highlighted in grey (definition of "evidence-based" page 4, line 10, & paragraph on evidence top of page 10).

April 6, 2022

CEEMI worked closely with ActivateWork on their Spring Launch event, “Elevating Colorado’s Economy by Launching Tech Careers.” Both Governor Polis and CDLE Director Joe Barela spoke; both lifted up ActivateWork powered by Per Scholas as a strong Colorado proof point. This is supported by 2 rigorous randomized evaluations of Per Scholas. Above, Governor Polis meets with 4 recent graduates and hears more about how the program helped them earn more, excel in tech, and achieve greater career satisfaction.

March 31, 2022

CEEMI CEO Roger Low joined the leaders of the Institute for College Access and Success and Results for America, and panelists from the University of North Carolina System, Project Quest, plus a recent graduate of Accelerated Studies in Associate Programs (ASAP) and moderated by a senior leader at Arnold Ventures, to talk about how now is the moment for states to leverage one-time ARPA dollars to promote effective, proven postsecondary models to increase degree attainment for all learners. It was a good discussion!

March 29, 2022

Governor Polis/members of the legislature announced the introduction of three bills implementing 1330 Task Force recommendations. CEEMI is working closely with the Governor’s office, the legislature and staff, and other stakeholders as these bills move forward.

-Postsecondary Student Success Data System (HB 22-1349)

-Regional Talent Development Initiative Grants (HB 22-1350)

-Opportunities for Credential Attainment (SB 22-192)

March 24, 2022

Working closely with key partners (Colorado Succeeds, Bell Policy Center and others), CEEMI built a broad coalition of 42 business, nonprofit and advocacy organizations endorsing Student Success and Workforce Revitalization task force recommendations, and highlighting some of our core policy priorities (focusing public dollars on data, learner outcomes, evidence, strong partnerships with employers, and stackable credential pathways in high-demand fields).

March 22, 2022

Check out this Colorado shout out: "A task force convened by the governor and legislature recommended focusing the state’s remaining funds on programs . . . that will move the needle on key outcomes for students. Specifically, the task force recommended 'intensive wraparound supports that reflect proven practices that substantially increase degree and credential attainment for learners (in particular learners of color, learners in poverty and first-generation students).' The legislature appears poised to implement these recommendations this session."

January 10, 2022

The Colorado Department of Higher Education released the final House Bill 21-1330 Task Force Report. Read the release and read the full report.

CEEMI was deeply involved in the drafting of this report, with several close partners, and many other stakeholders. We will work hard this year to advocate for the report’s key recommendations. Check back for further updates on this soon!

December 15, 2021

“The General Assembly and the Governor should attach a meaningful evidence standard to these funds, prioritizing programs such as Per Scholas and Quest in the top evidence tier, or similarly structured local programs with promising evidence, willing to participate in a rigorous evaluation to measure wage outcomes. This is not a partisan idea, and both parties support it. In the coming legislative session, let’s work together to leverage these historic public sector investments to build a more equitable economy that works for all Coloradans.”

November 4, 2021

CEEMI CEO Roger Low testified before two Colorado legislative task forces this fall. At both appearances, he argued for an equity-focused and evidence-driven approach to deploying Colorado federal stimulus funding. Listen to Roger’s Oct. 18 testimony to the Task Force on Economic Recovery and Relief Cash from 12:00:30 to 12:08:30 below. In addition, his Nov. 1 testimony to the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force is here, from 12:57 to 1:07. Slides are also here and here).

January 2022

The Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI) is a nonprofit that works to scale effective higher education and workforce development programs, unlocking opportunity for Coloradans in or near poverty. We are especially focused on programs and services that have been (or want to be) rigorously evaluated.

Colorado has the opportunity to reshape and reprioritize its investment in programs that drive economic mobility

September 2021

“QUEST participants continued to earn significantly more than individuals in the control group eleven years after study enrollment… These are the longest sustained earnings impacts ever found in a rigorous evaluation of a U.S. workforce development program… average net earnings benefits exceeded average net college and QUEST program costs by $17,416 per participant… QUEST has provided a path out of poverty directly into the middle class.”

May 21, 2021

“79.1% of the jobs in cybersecurity in the Denver area and northern Colorado are held by men and 20.9% by women…. 77% of the cybersecurity employees are white; 10.2% are Hispanic or Latino; 4.8% are Black; 4.7% are of Asian background; and 0.5% are Native American or Alaskan native.”

It doesn’t have to be this way: “there are more than 30,000 unfilled computer jobs in the [Denver] area.”

January 20, 2022

State Recovery is a new policy playbook from America Achieves on “Employing Residents in High-Demand Careers: An Evidence-Based, Good Jobs-Driven Approach.”

The report highlights Per Scholas and Year Up, two of our national partners, and includes compelling research on what works in workforce development. Check it out!

December 14, 2021

Results for America and the National Governors Association co-hosted a virtual event to release the 2021 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence. Colorado Governor Jared Polis gave keynote remarks, highlighting progress in Colorado, including in particular the enactment bipartisan evidence-based budget legislation, Senate Bill 21-284.

September 3, 2021

“U.S. employment numbers continue to rise… But there is a significant portion of America’s workforce that remains in limbo. Black and Hispanic workers — who are disproportionately represented in lower-wage industries such as transportation, leisure and hospitality — are still experiencing much higher rates of unemployment… By prioritizing funding for evidence-based programs, we can do a better job of ensuring that federal legislation is actually supporting economic mobility.”

Governor Jared Polis on August 30, 2021:

“What we really need now is bold thinking. To express our desire to rethink things that had been just because they’ve always been… We really need to reimagine our approach to higher ed and workforce development. To foster an environment where our home-grown talent can thrive right here in Colorado . . . .This is a unique opportunity to create transformational and generational change in our education to workforce pathways.”

The Governor also called in particular to "expand educational pathways to in-demand, high-skill, high-wage careers," to "think about how we can expand on proven models we know work for education and workforce development," to "encourage local talent ecosystem development," and to "ensure all Coloradans regardless of their background can access opportunity."

Watch the full briefing here.

June 3, 2021

“It’s essential to start planning a recovery that’s more efficient, more equitable, and more focused on achieving positive outcomes… we know that training and education can promote economic progress. But today, the wiring is all wrong. Students choose education and training programs without any assurance of better jobs down the line; governments spend money on services without any guarantee of their impact; employers hesitate to fund employee supports or upskilling for fear their investments won’t pay off… The examples featured in this book reconceptualize the talent development engine that keeps our economy running.”

May 6, 2021

“Year Up demonstrates the largest earnings impact reported to date for any workforce development program… four years after graduating, average earnings for Year Up participants were 34% higher (nearly $8,000/year) than for young adults in the control group. Abt Associates’ analysis also found that every $1.00 invested in Year Up returns $1.66 back to society… In working towards a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce for everyone, Year Up's impact will affect generations.”

April 29, 2021

“Based on decades of experience with every level of government, we would organize efforts around five principles. First, target a few big goals, to narrow and galvanize efforts. Second, fund initiatives with strong evidence of large long-term returns. Third, use these one-time funds in ways that are themselves one-time, or have a path to sustainability. Fourth, address racial and economic inequity, delivering for those left furthest behind. Finally, measure success.”

April 7, 2021

“A few nonprofits have a track record of lifting low-income Americans into higher-paying jobs, including Year Up, Per Scholas and Project Quest. Their training is tightly focused on specific skills and occupations, they work closely with employers, and they teach soft skills like communication and teamwork. But there are too few of them, and they struggle for sustainable financing.”

March 30, 2021

“Three-quarters of all Colorado jobs require education beyond high school. But only about half of the state’s adults have the necessary schooling…

The [Strengthening Working Families Initiative] program has offered grants that help provide child care, college counseling, and career support to almost 700 students at Aurora and the Community College of Denver… In its last year, the program graduated over 93 percent of its participants. But like many initiatives, it relied on a short-term grant. Despite its successful track record, the program expired.”

“Workforce agencies and boards have a simple but powerful mechanism to ensure that providers with high or moderate causal evidence have the funds they need to scale their efforts — using competitive procurement or grantmaking processes to incentivize the adoption of models with evidence of effectiveness. For example, WDBs can give preference points to those applicants who propose strategies with high or moderate causal evidence of achieving significant gains for priority outcomes.” This “encourages evidence-based providers to pursue the opportunity to serve a particular community” and “[signals] to existing providers in a community that they need to pay closer attention to the research on effective models.”