A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning expanding work-based learning experiences in
Page 1, Line 102higher education.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill creates the work-based learning consortium pilot program (pilot program) in the department of higher education (department). The purpose of the pilot program is to develop and expand the integration of work-based learning experiences for students enrolled in higher education.
On or before July 1, 2026, or within 90 days after the department receives sufficient funding, the department shall convene a consortium consisting of a group of representatives from institutions of higher education to:
- Share best practices on improving access to quality work-based learning opportunities for students;
- Help participating institutions of higher education meet workforce needs in Colorado and connect academic learning with real-world experiences through career preparation and skill development for students; and
- Make recommendations to the general assembly and institutions of higher education on the best practices.
- A description of the consortium's findings and recommendations;
- Details on the consortium's impacts on participating institutions of higher education and the effects of creating additional work-based learning activities on students, faculty, and employers; and
- Recommendations for statutory changes, financial resources, department policy changes, and institution of higher education policy changes necessary to improve successful work-based learning opportunities for students in institutions of higher education.
Subject to available appropriations, at the end of the 3-year pilot program, the consortium shall complete and submit a report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or their successor committees. The report must include:
Funds appropriated to the commission on higher education (commission) may be used by the commission to cover the costs of work-based learning requirements for students who are required to complete credit-bearing work-based learning requirements to graduate from an institution of higher education.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 3(a) Colorado has continued to improve access to high-quality
Page 2, Line 4work-based learning through the creation of tools like the work-based
Page 2, Line 5learning continuum, work-based learning quality expectations, and the
Page 2, Line 6talent development glossary;
Page 3, Line 1(b) The Colorado department of higher education and the
Page 3, Line 2Colorado commission on higher education find that work-based learning
Page 3, Line 3opportunities significantly enhance a student's exposure to the workforce
Page 3, Line 4and empower students with the skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly evolving economy; and
Page 3, Line 5(c) The Colorado department of higher education and the
Page 3, Line 6Colorado commission on higher education find that work-based learning
Page 3, Line 7opportunities are a critical element of postsecondary success and blur the
Page 3, Line 8lines between K-12 education, postsecondary education, and the workplace in all fields;
Page 3, Line 9(2) The general assembly finds, therefore, that Colorado's learners
Page 3, Line 10and earners will be well-served by the expansion of work-based learning
Page 3, Line 11opportunities that are strategically developed, monitored, and
Page 3, Line 12continuously improved, and function as a part of an intentionally designed
Page 3, Line 13and managed effort among institutions of higher education, program
Page 3, Line 14design experts, workforce development and economic experts, and
Page 3, Line 15industry leaders, particularly industry leader employers in high-demand fields.
Page 3, Line 16SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 82 to title 23 as follows:
Page 3, Line 17ARTICLE 82
Work-based Learning Consortium
Page 3, Line 18Pilot Program
Page 3, Line 1923-82-101. Definitions.As used in this article 82, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 3, Line 20(1) "Consortium" means the work-based learning
Page 3, Line 21consortium convened pursuant to section 23-82-102 (2)(a).
Page 4, Line 1(2) "Department" means the department of higher education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-114.
Page 4, Line 2(3) "Fund" means the higher education work-based learning consortium fund.
Page 4, Line 3(4) "Institution of higher education" means:
Page 4, Line 4(a) A state institution of higher education, as defined in
Page 4, Line 5section 23-18-102, or an accredited campus of a state institution of higher education;
Page 4, Line 6(b) A participating private institution of higher education, as defined in section 23-18-102;
Page 4, Line 7(c) A local district college, as defined in section 23-71-102; and
Page 4, Line 8(d) An area technical college, as defined in section 23-60-103.
Page 4, Line 9(5) "Industry-sponsored projects" means projects that
Page 4, Line 10create a high-quality opportunity for students in which the
Page 4, Line 11work-based learning content will enhance educational
Page 4, Line 12learning objects of the project and courses to which the project
Page 4, Line 13is applied. "Industry-sponsored projects" are a type of work-based learning.
Page 4, Line 14(6) "Pilot program" means the work-based learning consortium pilot program created in section 23-82-102 (1).
Page 4, Line 15(7) "Work-based learning" has the same meaning as set forth in section 8-83-601.
Page 4, Line 1623-82-102. Work-based learning consortium pilot program -
Page 4, Line 17created - duties - repeal. (1) The work-based learning consortium
Page 4, Line 18pilot program is created in the department. Upon receiving
Page 5, Line 1sufficient funds as described in section 23-82-104 (1), the
Page 5, Line 2department shall establish, implement, manage, and maintain the work-based learning consortium pilot program.
Page 5, Line 3(2) The purpose of the pilot program is to:
Page 5, Line 4(a) Demonstrate the value of work-based learning in
Page 5, Line 5postsecondary curricula by studying the impact of
Page 5, Line 6industry-sponsored projects on course objectives and learning outcomes;
Page 5, Line 7(b) Promote the adoption of work-based learning in higher
Page 5, Line 8education by working with faculty at participating institutions
Page 5, Line 9of higher education to embed project-based learning opportunities into credit-bearing programs;
Page 5, Line 10(c) Provide broader access to collegiate work-based learning for students;
Page 5, Line 11(d) Measure the impact of work-based learning on participating students; and
Page 5, Line 12(e) Learn how institutions of higher education can
Page 5, Line 13increase the value of postsecondary education through career exposure and preparedness.
Page 5, Line 14(3) (a) Pending the receipt of sufficient funds, the
Page 5, Line 15department shall convene a consortium of the following representatives after the effective date of this section:
Page 5, Line 16(I) At least three representatives from each participating
Page 5, Line 17institution of higher education, who may be participating
Page 5, Line 18faculty members, leaders from a career center, chief academic officers, or provosts;
Page 5, Line 19(II) A member from the Colorado commission on higher education;
Page 6, Line 1(III) Members of the Colorado department of labor and employment;
Page 6, Line 2(IV) A member of the Colorado department of education; and
Page 6, Line 3(V) A local or national subject matter expert with experience implementing work-based learning.
Page 6, Line 4(b) The consortium shall meet for three years after the effective date of this section.
Page 6, Line 5(c) The department shall select the participating
Page 6, Line 6institutions of higher education described in subsection (3)(a) of
Page 6, Line 7this section based on available funding and other criteria established by the department.
Page 6, Line 8(d) The department shall work with the Colorado
Page 6, Line 9department of labor and employment and the office of economic
Page 6, Line 10development, as relevant subject matter experts, to facilitate
Page 6, Line 11employer engagement and to promote industry-sponsored projects.
Page 6, Line 12(e) The members of the consortium serve without compensation and without reimbursement for expenses.
Page 6, Line 13(f) Subject to available funding, faculty participants
Page 6, Line 14from participating institutions of higher education may receive a stipend from the fund.
Page 6, Line 15(4) The consortium shall:
Page 6, Line 16(a) Work with each participating institution of higher
Page 6, Line 17education's faculty to embed industry-sponsored projects in
Page 6, Line 18course curriculum that meet the work-based learning quality standards established pursuant to section 8-83-602 (5);
Page 7, Line 1(b) Work with the department to determine the impact of industry-sponsored projects;
Page 7, Line 2(c) Work with a third-party platform to connect faculty
Page 7, Line 3from participating institutions to employers for the purpose of
Page 7, Line 4developing high-quality project-based learning opportunities for classroom instruction;
Page 7, Line 5(d) Advise the Colorado commission on higher education
Page 7, Line 6on strategies to improve student access to high-quality,
Page 7, Line 7work-based learning opportunities for students based on
Page 7, Line 8participating faculty members' experience embedding industry-sponsored projects into curriculum;
Page 7, Line 9(e) Develop best practices for institutions of higher
Page 7, Line 10education to expand access to work-based learning in the classroom through industry-sponsored projects; and
Page 7, Line 11(f) Develop findings and recommendations based on the consortium's duties described in this subsection (4).
Page 7, Line 12(5) The third-party platform described in subsection (4)(c) of this section must:
Page 7, Line 13(a) Work, as necessary, with the department of labor and
Page 7, Line 14employment, institutions of higher educations' career services
Page 7, Line 15and workforce development teams, the office of economic
Page 7, Line 16development, and the department to recruit industries to participate in industry-sponsored projects;
Page 7, Line 17(b) Work with each participating institution of higher
Page 7, Line 18education's faculty to support their work aligning
Page 7, Line 19industry-sponsored projects with existing content and curricula, including, but not limited to:
Page 8, Line 1(I) Using models tailored to different disciplines,
Page 8, Line 2student-team collaboration frameworks, including project
Page 8, Line 3guidelines and expectations and faculty-integrated experiential learning models;
Page 8, Line 4(II) Partnering with each participating institution of
Page 8, Line 5higher education's career services or workforce development
Page 8, Line 6team and faculty and staff to develop a strategy to grow their industry and employer networks;
Page 8, Line 7(III) Working with participating institutions of higher
Page 8, Line 8education to develop new employer engagement strategies to expand industry collaboration;
Page 8, Line 9(IV) Providing an online platform for structured
Page 8, Line 10work-based learning opportunities, including
Page 8, Line 11industry-sponsored projects that are shared with participating institutions of higher education;
Page 8, Line 12(V) Providing project-based learning models to support program development;
Page 8, Line 13(VI) Providing relevant data regarding the effectiveness of the pilot program and its impact; and
Page 8, Line 14(VII) Providing institutional support and training,
Page 8, Line 15including support for faculty through training workshops on
Page 8, Line 16integrating experiential learning into curricula; a custom
Page 8, Line 17consortium dashboard for tracking projects, student progress,
Page 8, Line 18and institutional engagement; best practice guides for scaling
Page 8, Line 19across programs and departments; and a resource hub with case
Page 8, Line 20studies.
Page 9, Line 1(6) (a) No later than three years after the effective date
Page 9, Line 2of this section, the consortium shall complete and submit a
Page 9, Line 3report to the education committees of the house of
Page 9, Line 4representatives and the senate, or their successor committees, on the following:
Page 9, Line 5(I) A description of the consortium's findings and recommendations described in subsection (4)(f) of this section;
Page 9, Line 6(II) The details of the consortium's impacts on
Page 9, Line 7participating institutions of higher education and the effects of
Page 9, Line 8creating additional work-based learning activities on students, faculty, and employers; and
Page 9, Line 9(III) Recommendations for statutory changes, financial
Page 9, Line 10resources, department policy changes, and institutions of higher
Page 9, Line 11education policy changes necessary to improve successful
Page 9, Line 12work-based learning opportunities for students enrolled in institutions of higher education.
Page 9, Line 13(b) This subsection (6) is repealed, effective June 30, 2031.
Page 9, Line 1423-82-103. Higher education work-based consortium fund -
Page 9, Line 15gifts, grants, and donations. (1) The department may seek, accept,
Page 9, Line 16and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public
Page 9, Line 17sources for the purposes of this article 82. The department shall
Page 9, Line 18transmit all money received through gifts, grants, or donations
Page 9, Line 19to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money to the higher
Page 9, Line 20education work-based learning consortium fund created in this section.
Page 9, Line 21(2) The department may accept donations of in-kind
Page 9, Line 22services for the purposes of this section, including for technical assistance.
Page 10, Line 1(3) The higher education work-based learning consortium
Page 10, Line 2fund is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of gifts,
Page 10, Line 3grants, and donations credited to the fund pursuant to
Page 10, Line 4subsection (1) of this section and any other money that the
Page 10, Line 5general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund. The
Page 10, Line 6state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived
Page 10, Line 7from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund.
Page 10, Line 8(4) Money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the department for purposes of this article 82.
Page 10, Line 9(5) (a) If, by June 30, 2028, the money in the fund has never
Page 10, Line 10reached or exceeded two million dollars, the state treasurer shall return each grantor's or donor's gift, grant, or donation.
Page 10, Line 11(b) If section 23-82-102 takes effect pursuant to section
Page 10, Line 1223-82-104 (1), on the day prior to the repeal of the fund three
Page 10, Line 13years later pursuant to section 23-82-104 (2), the state
Page 10, Line 14treasurer shall return from the fund to each grantor or donor
Page 10, Line 15the money remaining in the fund in an amount that is
Page 10, Line 16proportional to the grantor's or donor's share of the total amount of gifts, grants, or donations deposited to the fund.
Page 10, Line 17(c) If any money remains in the fund after the state
Page 10, Line 18treasurer returns money to donors or grantors as described in
Page 10, Line 19subsection (5)(a) or (5)(b) of this section, as applicable, the state
Page 10, Line 20treasurer shall, prior to the repeal of the fund, transfer all
Page 10, Line 21unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund to the general
Page 10, Line 22fund.
Page 11, Line 123-82-104. Effective dates - repeal of part - notice to revisor of
Page 11, Line 2statutes. (1) Section 23-82-102 will take effect if the fund
Page 11, Line 3receives two million dollars in gifts, grants, or donations for
Page 11, Line 4purposes of this article 82. The executive director of the
Page 11, Line 5department of higher education shall notify the revisor of
Page 11, Line 6statutes in writing of the date when the condition specified in
Page 11, Line 7this section has occurred by emailing the notice to
Page 11, Line 8revisorofstatutes.ga@coleg.gov. Section 23-82-102 takes effect
Page 11, Line 9upon the date identified in the notice that the department
Page 11, Line 10receives two million dollars in gifts, grants, or donations for
Page 11, Line 11purposes of this section or, if the notice does not specify that date, upon the date of the notice to the revisor of statutes.
Page 11, Line 12(2) This article 82 is repealed, effective July 1, 2031;
Page 11, Line 13except that, if the revisor of statutes receives notice pursuant
Page 11, Line 14to this section, then this article 82 is repealed, effective three years after section 23-82-102 takes effect.
Page 11, Line 15SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 83 to title 23 as follows:
Page 11, Line 16ARTICLE 83
Page 11, Line 17Collegiate Work-based Learning
Page 11, Line 1823-83-101. Definitions.As used in this article 83, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 11, Line 19(1) "Commission" has the same meaning as set forth in section 23-1-101.1.
Page 11, Line 20(2) "Department" means the department of higher
Page 11, Line 21education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-114.
(3) "Institution of higher education" means:
Page 12, Line 1(a) A state institution of higher education, as defined in
Page 12, Line 2section 23-18-102, or an accredited campus of a state institution of higher education;
Page 12, Line 3(b) A participating private institution of higher education, as defined in section 23-18-102;
Page 12, Line 4(c) A local district college, as defined in section 23-71-102; and
Page 12, Line 5(d) An area technical college, as defined in section 23-60-103.
Page 12, Line 6(4) "Talent development glossary" means a tool created
Page 12, Line 7and maintained by the Colorado workforce development council to define terms related to talent development.
Page 12, Line 8(5) "Work-based learning" has the same meaning as set forth in section 8-83-601.
Page 12, Line 9(6) "Work-based learning quality expectations" means the
Page 12, Line 10tool created pursuant to section 8-83-602 (5) that describes a
Page 12, Line 11variety of strategies to offer learners experiential,
Page 12, Line 12career-connected opportunities. The activities promote learning about work, learning through work, and learning at work.
Page 12, Line 1323-83-102. Collegiate work-based learning - talent
Page 12, Line 14development glossary. (1) On or before November 1, 2026, the
Page 12, Line 15commission shall recommend a list of terms used by institutions
Page 12, Line 16of higher education related to work-based learning to the
Page 12, Line 17Colorado workforce development council for inclusion in the talent development glossary.
Page 12, Line 18(2) The purpose of the list of terms is to:
Page 13, Line 1(a) Augment the talent development glossary so that
Page 13, Line 2collegiate work-based learning activities are accurately
Page 13, Line 3reflected in statewide efforts to promote work-based learning; and
Page 13, Line 4(b) Demonstrate to institutions of higher education
Page 13, Line 5relevant opportunities to participate in statewide efforts to promote work-based learning.
Page 13, Line 6(3) The list of terms must be developed in partnership with
Page 13, Line 7the institutions of higher education, the Colorado workforce
Page 13, Line 8development council, nonprofit organizations, and institutional
Page 13, Line 9faculty with experience developing collegiate work-based learning opportunities.
Page 13, Line 10(4) (a) On or before July 1, 2026, the commission shall work
Page 13, Line 11with institutions of higher education; the Colorado workforce
Page 13, Line 12development council; the department of education; the
Page 13, Line 13consortium created pursuant to section 23-82-102 (3)(a), if
Page 13, Line 14section 23-82-102 becomes effective pursuant to section 23-82-104
Page 13, Line 15(1); nonprofit organizations; industry associations; and
Page 13, Line 16businesses to develop recommendations on how to best embed
Page 13, Line 17work-based learning opportunities into current degree pathways.
Page 13, Line 18(b) The recommendations described in subsection (4)(a) of
Page 13, Line 19this section must be used to inform the review and revision of
Page 13, Line 20work-based learning quality expectations set forth in section 8-83-602 (5).
Page 13, Line 21(5) On or before December 31, 2026, the department shall
Page 13, Line 22work in collaboration with institutions of higher education to
Page 14, Line 1identify which work-based learning activities are measurable
Page 14, Line 2and how to best report work-based learning activities by
Page 14, Line 3considering the appropriate data standards, methodology of data collection, and the frequency of reporting.
Page 14, Line 4SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-3.3-401, amend (1); and add (4) as follows:
Page 14, Line 523-3.3-401. Work-study program established - requirements.
Page 14, Line 6(1) The commission shall use a portion of any
moneysPage 14, Line 7after meeting the requirements of this part 4 and parts 2 and 3 of this
Page 14, Line 8
articlePage 14, Line 9qualifying students in good standing with the institution in which they are
Page 14, Line 10enrolled in positions that are directly under the control of the institution
Page 14, Line 11in which the student is enrolled or in positions with nonprofit
Page 14, Line 12organizations, governmental agencies, or for-profit organizations with which the institution may execute student employment contracts.
Page 14, Line 13(4) Institutions of higher education that are eligible for
Page 14, Line 14the work-study program may use work-study program money to
Page 14, Line 15cover the costs of work-based learning credits for students
Page 14, Line 16who are required to complete credit-bearing work-based
Page 14, Line 17learning requirements to graduate from an institution of
Page 14, Line 18higher education. Funding used for the purposes of this
Page 14, Line 19subsection (4) is exempt from the requirements to use a student employment contract.
Page 14, Line 20SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-48.5-502, amend (3)(c), (3)(d), and (3)(f) as follows:
Page 14, Line 2124-48.5-502. Universal high school scholarship program -
Page 14, Line 22established - administration - cash fund - eligibility. (3) (c) The state
Page 15, Line 1treasurer shall transfer all unexpended and unencumbered money in the cash fund on
December 30, 2026Page 15, Line 2(d) For state fiscal year 2023-24, the general assembly shall
Page 15, Line 3appropriate twenty-five million dollars from the cash fund for the
Page 15, Line 4program. Any unexpended or unencumbered money appropriated
Page 15, Line 5pursuant to this subsection (3)(d) remains available for expenditure for
Page 15, Line 6the same purpose in the
2024-25Page 15, Line 7appropriation. Except as otherwise permitted in this subsection (3), the office shall use the money for scholarship awards.
Page 15, Line 8(f)
The office may, on or before December 31, 2023, allocatePage 15, Line 9
money from the program appropriation for the direct and indirect costsPage 15, Line 10
associated with the administration of the program; except thatPage 15, Line 11
expenditures for administrative costs shall not exceed six percent of thePage 15, Line 12
total appropriation. The office shall use the money described in thisPage 15, Line 13
subsection (3)(f) that was not allocated for administrative costs on orPage 15, Line 14
before December 31, 2023, for scholarship awards.Page 15, Line 15the administrative costs of the program must not exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars.
Page 15, Line 16SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 24-48.5-506 as follows:
Page 15, Line 1724-48.5-506. Repeal of part. This part 5 is repealed, effective
December 31, 2026Page 15, Line 18SECTION 7. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 15, Line 19takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 15, Line 20ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 15, Line 21that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article
Page 15, Line 22V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of
Page 16, Line 1this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not
Page 16, Line 2take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be
Page 16, Line 3held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.