Denver Public Schools is asking students to think about life after graduation earlier than ever, including as early as kindergarten. The district has laid out a set of systemwide goals it wants in place by 2029 to expand mentorships, internships and apprenticeships and to boost graduation rates. District leaders say the plan is designed to tighten the pipeline from elementary classrooms to meaningful careers.
The roadmap appears in a short local briefing and video that spells out the district's targets and timeline, including a push for registered apprenticeships and more work-based learning opportunities for students across the city, according to CBS News Colorado. The report casts 2029 as the year for full implementation and lists mentorships, internships and apprenticeship placements among the top priorities. Officials say those goals will require new partnerships with employers and higher education institutions.
District career push builds on existing programs
DPS says the proposal builds on its Career & College Success office, which oversees career and technical education, higher education partnerships and youth apprenticeships across the district, according to Career & College Success. The office manages CTE clusters, concurrent enrollment and a range of career development supports for middle and high school students. District staff says those existing systems provide the backbone for the new 2029 goals are meant to scale up.
Career exploration starts in elementary classrooms
Some Denver schools already introduce career ideas in the early grades through the district's Embark/Spark programs, which bring in guest speakers, job shadows and classroom projects tied to career clusters. Green Valley Elementary's site notes that all students in grades K-5 were introduced to the Embark/RIASEC career exploration program in February 2025 and that classrooms have hosted guest speakers and hands-on activities, according to Green Valley Elementary. The materials emphasize interest-based exploration for young learners and include grade-level slideshows and lessons.
Apprenticeships and degrees could bridge high school to work
The district's timeline lines up with a policy change that allows Emily Griffith Technical College, the district-run technical college, to offer applied associate degrees tied to registered apprenticeship programs. As reported by K12 Dive, the state law change cleared the way for Emily Griffith to award associate of applied science degrees to students who complete registered apprenticeships. “By removing barriers between high school, college and career, we’re reimagining what it means to truly prepare students for the future,” Denver Superintendent Alex Marrero said in a statement to K12 Dive.
What this could mean for families
Supporters say that early exposure, combined with stronger apprenticeship pipelines, can widen access to good-paying jobs and keep students engaged in school. The DPS Foundation’s Spring 2025 impact report notes investments in K-2 career lessons and summer job shadow pilots, and highlights the district’s work-based learning pipeline and internship partnerships as part of that effort, according to DPS Foundation. Backers argue that taken together, those pieces could shorten the time between graduation and paid work for students who follow career pathways.
DPS officials say the 2029 timeline will be phased in school by school and will depend on partnerships with local employers, higher education institutions and funders. Families looking for specifics can review the district's Career & College Success resources and contact their school’s counseling team for timelines and signups, per Career & College Success. District leaders say more details and rollout plans will be released in the coming months as pilots expand.
