Free program prepares Colorado high school students to enter the workforce

Buzzing a drone through the halls of Horizon High School, students are gaining hands-on experience and skills to benefit them beyond graduation. In an adjacent classroom, incoming freshman Aksel Gangji is creating an entrepreneurial plan using mini figurines.

"I've learned a lot about different types of marketing and business and stuff like that in this class," Gangji said.

Fellow student and soon-to-be senior Dominick Sandoval helped mentor him throughout. "I'm the type of person that likes to talk to people no matter where they come from in their transition from middle to high school."

These courses are part are part of a statewide initiative by Ednium, Gary Community Ventures, and the Colorado Education Initiative to identify and expand credentials of value offerings for all Colorado high school students.

The pilot program collaborated with five districts and schools that were already offering credentials of value, supporting continued development and learning communities to explore how to implement these types of credentials in all Colorado high schools. 

"I think it's extremely important. Kids sometimes don't know where they fit in, and there's somebody there for them to see that," explained Jarrett Crockett, Horizon Dean of Students.

The free classes were offered by Adams 12 with a grant from Ednium and its partners. Ednium is led by Denver Public Schools alumnus Richard Maez. The group uses the experience of recent graduates to ensure future grads are better prepared for success. Students earn "credentials of value" by taking courses that provide concrete skills currently in high demand by employers.

"Credentials of value are making sure that students are leaving with a certificate or other types of credentials. It's in addition to a diploma, pieces that allow one step further for our students to enter the workforce career-ready," said Maez.

"They're going away with something tangible, a skillset that's going to help them further along," said Crockett.

Gangji says it's certainly helped pique his interest in making plans beyond graduation, including learning about his parents business. "It'd be cool to own a business, and I want to know more about their business and how it functions and stuff."

To learn more about the efforts to expand "credentials of value" visit Pathways-to-College-and-Career-Advancing-Colorados-Homegrown-Talent-Coalition.pdf