Colorado leaders’ push to create a path to skilled careers for high schoolers got a big bump Wednesday, with two organizations saying they will give $9.5 million in funding to CareerWise Colorado, a statewide apprenticeship program and CareerConnect, a Denver Public Schools’ program.
Formerly referred to as BASIC (Business and Schools in Collaboration), CareerWise Colorado will allow high school students to split their time attending high school classes while simultaneously earning college credit and wages from participating companies.
JPMorgan will commit $4 million to CareerConnect, while Bloomberg Philanthropies will commit an additional $5.5 million to CareerWise. That adds to other financial commitments from the Daniels Fund, the Markle Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation to the programs — bringing the total to $11 million.
