Celebrating Partnership and Progress Toward a More Equitable Future

Thank you for partnering with us to empower learners and strengthen communities.

As we close out 2024 – a year that has underscored the deep divides in our nation – it’s worth celebrating the progress we’ve achieved together right here in Colorado. Despite the noise of national disunity, learners and earners in our state are building a future filled with promise. By working together with our partners to equip learners for high-value careers, we are advancing our shared belief in the dignity and potential of every individual, regardless of their background.

The Attainment Network is proud to serve as a bridge – an intermediary that builds productive partnerships with schools, colleges, and employers – connecting learners to opportunities and employers to skilled, diverse talent. We believe communities thrive when learners are heard, valued, and empowered to contribute, and we are committed to transforming education-to-workforce systems and erasing pervasive equity gaps. Our goal is for all learners not only to succeed in meaningful careers but also to contribute to thriving communities.

Colorado is full of progress and hope. In the San Luis Valley, we are proud to lead healthcare employers, higher education, community-based organizations, and 14 school districts that are all united in their commitment to provide opportunities to diverse learners and break the cycle of generational poverty. Together, we are elevating the voices of learners and earners and building lasting systems that equip them with the education and skills needed to build strong futures for themselves and their families.

In Jeffco Public Schools, we are fostering new partnerships with postsecondary institutions and employers that will bring the district’s vision for a public safety academy to life. This initiative will open doors to rewarding careers in law enforcement, firefighting, and other essential public safety roles, giving learners the opportunity to serve their communities and find purpose in high-value professions.

In Denver, where The Attainment Network first began supporting collaboration between K-12 and higher education, we have seen a significant expansion of opportunities for learners to acquire real-world experiences and industry-recognized credentials. By listening to learner voices and working together to reduce the barriers they face, we have increased the number and diversity of learners who are prepared to enter meaningful careers that will support their families.

And in Aurora, a community enriched by its vibrant diversity, we have been proud to enhance our partners’ capacity to shape new education-to-workforce systems that create economic opportunity for learners in construction and healthcare industries.

Last fall in Greeley, nearly 500 educators and employers gathered at our Career-Connected L/Earning Conference to connect and build their capacity to shape education-to-workforce systems and equip learners for meaningful careers.

Threaded through our work across the state is our commitment to elevating the voices and experiences of learners, ensuring our partners develop strategies that are responsive to the unique needs of each community.

Progress is rarely linear, but we are inspired by our partners’ steady commitment to learning, collaboration, and growth. Moving forward, we will continue to elevate promising practices to state-level conversations, informing policies that advance equity and opportunity for all. As we look forward to 2025, we can see a future where, working in partnership, we will shape systems where all learners find economic opportunity and purpose in their communities.

Thank you for partnering with us in this work. It is only by working together and embracing the hard work of collaboration that we can truly break down barriers, reshape systems, and create lasting change. To our investors, thank you for believing in our mission and making our shared vision a reality. And as we ring in a new year, let’s reaffirm our commitment to work in partnership, listen to learner voices, and design opportunities that will shape a more equitable future.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a new year filled with the promise of all that we can accomplish together.

In gratitude and partnership,

The Team at The Attainment Network

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RECENT ARTICLES

Building Strong Pathways Starts with Career Advising

By Rana Tarkenton • March 11, 2026

I recently had the opportunity to meet Aimar Amezcua-Sandoval, a workforce development specialist at Denver Health, during a panel discussion at Metropolitan State University Denver titled Healthcare Careers You Didn’t Know Existed. During our conversation before the event, I learned something unexpected: Years earlier when I worked at the Denver Scholarship Foundation, I had hired the college and career advisor who helped launch Aimar’s journey. It was a powerful reminder that the systems we talk about improving are ultimately built and shaped by people. The ripple effects of a highly qualified, well-prepared advisor can extend far beyond a single decision or moment in time. We often talk about education and career pathways as if they are obvious routes that learners intuitively step onto and follow. In reality, many learners experience something very different. They face big decisions without clear information about their options or what steps to take next. That’s where career advising makes such a difference. Advisors help people distill their interests, understand what’s possible, and navigate decisions with more confidence. I wanted to hear more about Aimar’s career journey, so I reached out to learn more about her path from from high school student to nurse to workforce development specialist at Denver Health. The following edited excerpt from our conversation illustrates how powerful high quality career guidance can be.

Colorado Longitudinal Data System Takes Shape

March 4, 2026

Colorado’s upcoming Statewide Longitudinal Data System now has a catchy new name — COdata , short for Colorado Data Connections — marking its evolution from a policy vision into an accessible, user-friendly tool designed to help learners and their families, as well as educators and policymakers, make informed decisions about education and career pathways. At The Attainment Network’s February State of the Data webinar, Dr. Heather MacGillivary from the Governor’s Office of Information Technology shared meaningful progress and new opportunities for stakeholder engagement as COdata moves toward the launch of its first public reports this September. Key Updates Draft Research Framework The state has developed a draft 2–3 year research framework to guide how COdata will be used and expanded. The framework: Establishes shared definitions to reduce confusion across agencies and sectors Identifies priority questions about education-to-workforce pathways Emphasizes analysis of access and outcomes for diverse groups of Coloradans Stakeholder feedback on the Research Framework is being collected through May, with finalization expected in June. Contact heather.macgillivary@state.co.us to provide feedback. Public Data Dashboard Development The public-facing COdata dashboard is actively being built and tested. The team has: Conducted focus groups with state agency data partners to refine the interface Linked the majority of participating program data sources OIT is seeking feedback on the dashboard from learners, families and policymakers. Contact Stefan@attainmentnetwork.org if you know learners and families who would like to participate. You can review the full presentation and discussion here: 👉 Slides 👉 Recording Passcode: z5Sz!6&C In addition to system updates, CEEMI’s Roger Low reminded participants that evidence-building is not a box-checking exercise — it is about improving people’s lives. With limited public resources and complex challenges, research and evaluation help determine which strategies truly move the needle. Clear distinctions between outputs, outcomes, and impacts are essential to scaling what works. Ways to Stay Engaged 📊 Join the Better Data for Better Decisions Coalition Participate in monthly working sessions to provide stakeholder feedback and help align COData insights with major state priorities and policy decisions. Contact Stefan@attainmentnetwork.org for more information about the coalition. 🎤 Attend the Career-Connected L/Earning Conference, Oct. 29–30 in Colorado Springs Learn more about how data, evidence, and cross-sector collaboration shape Colorado’s education-to-workforce system. Learn More.

On the Move in March

March 4, 2026

March is all about leadership in action. The Attainment Network team is stepping into spaces where strategy, influence, and collaboration converge. We’re excited to elevate rural voices, strengthen employer engagement, and participate in conversations shaping education-to-workforce systems across Colorado and beyond. Here’s where you can find us this March: 🗓️ March 3–5 🔹 Accelerate ED Community Convening — Columbus, OH Michelle Camacho Liu and Rana will join education-to-workforce leaders from multiple states to explore strategies for scaling high-quality pathways, building sustainable infrastructure, and strengthening connections that expand opportunity and build economic mobility for learners. 🗓️ March 5 🔹 NOCO Talent Summit — Northern Colorado Libby will join other NOCO leaders at this summit centered on strengthening partnerships between business, education, and government, with conversations on human skills in AI and connecting education to careers. 🗓️ March 11 🔹 San Luis Valley Career Fair — San Luis Valley Ashley and Wes will support this regional event connecting high school students with local employers, training programs, and career pathways. This fair will feature careers in agriculture. 🔹 Scrivner Policy Roundtable: Rural Renaissance and Colorado’s Policy Future — Denver Michelle Payne will join this conversation highlighting insights from Colorado Project 2.0’s Rural Renaissance initiative, elevating the voices and experiences of rural communities to continue building a roadmap for inclusive and sustainable growth. 🗓️ March 11–12 🔹 SLV Partnership Leadership Meetings – San Luis Valley Rana will meet with regional partners to discuss healthcare pathways progress and explore new opportunities for growth. 🗓️ March 18 🔹 Bo e ttcher Foundation Convening: State of Leadership — Denver Rana will join statewide leaders to reflect what’s working, what’s challenging, and what it takes to accelerate progress. 🗓️ March 19 🔹 Better Data for Better Decisions Coalition Meeting – Virtual Stefan will join this open, virtual meeting focused on priority data initiatives, including updates on Colorado’s State Longitudinal Data System. 🗓️ March 31 – April 2 🔹 Axim Collaborative: Employer Engagement CoLab – Cambridge, MA Rana and partners from MSU Denver and CCD will attend this executive-level working session focused on strengthening employer engagement and shortening time-to-hire through more aligned and effective talent pipelines. We hope to see you at one of these events — or hear from you if you’re working on similar efforts. March is shaping up to be a month of meaningful dialogue and forward motion.