In Northern Colorado, community runs deep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Employers actively encourage local students to fill their talent pipeline in sectors like health care and manufacturing\u2014and a comprehensive, regional Work-Based Learning (WBL) program helps bring them together.<\/span><\/p>\n Tanya Alcaraz, Director of CCR & Innovation at Poudre School District (PSD), has been sitting at the table with businesses for years. \u201cOur sector partnerships have meetings once a month to talk about employers\u2019 needs as well as what they can offer young people,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When PSD adopted Xello (then Career Cruising) in 2017, they finally had a CCR solution that could help strengthen a Work-Based Learning program that meets the needs of businesses and students.<\/span><\/p>\n Ultimately, the Northern Colorado Work-Based Learning Alliance launched <\/span>NoCo Inspire<\/span><\/a>, a hub where local organizations, school districts, higher educational institutions and more, partner to share resources and align education and workforce needs to increase community access to WBL programs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today more than 24,000 students, 615 businesses and eight school districts are part of the K-12 WBL initiative.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhen an employer in Northern Colorado wants to connect with a student for an internship or to hire them, we have an \u2018easy button\u2019. We post it on Xello and they automatically have access to all high school students in all of Northern Colorado, not just one region.\u201d\u00a0 <\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Tanya Alcaraz, Director of CCR & Innovation<\/p>\n At PSD, students can easily use Xello to find local <\/span>WBL opportunities<\/span><\/a> that align with the discoveries they are making about themselves and career pathways on the platform. They can access local company profiles and find out what kind of roles are available to them, including job shadowing, internships, and apprenticeships. When they see a role they like, they can easily request to apply right in Xello.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSince 2021, 551 WBL opportunities have been posted on the Xello<\/a> platform, there have been over 4,000 student requests, and we\u2019ve logged 2,300 completed WBL activities,\u201d said Alcaraz.<\/span><\/p>\n When students make a request on Xello, a dedicated WBL coordinator receives an alert and will call them in for a meeting to help ensure their resume is prepared and their Xello profile is updated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to have this layer of support to show students how they can apply. For example, if it\u2019s a job shadow opportunity, they can talk about expectations and talk to the student about why they requested it to ensure it\u2019s a good fit and, ultimately, a high-quality experience for both the employer and the student,\u201d said Alcaraz.<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, employers can post opportunities for students throughout all eight school districts. \u201cTheir goal is to help kids learn about careers that are high wage and in-demand. And they have supportive K-12 partners to help them do that,\u201d said Alcaraz.<\/span><\/p>\n High school students gain workforce readiness skills by participating in career tours, internships, apprenticeships, capstone projects, or paid part-time work experiences. Students who take two or more courses in a career pathway can earn one elective credit for every 15 hours they participate and meet the capstone requirement for graduation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOne of the reasons I like using Xello for Work-based learning is the broad continuum. Students can learn more about themselves, do career assessments, go on college tours\u2026 all the work we\u2019ve been focused on following the Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP),\u201d said Alcaraz.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI love when we see a student doing research and becoming interested in a career in Xello. With the WBL module, they can see a list of all local opportunities so they can make a request to have an experience. It brings everything in one place where students, counselors, CTE teachers, WBL coordinators all work together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s also evened the playing field. Alcaraz says that, prior to Xello, students had to have their own network to have a WBL experience, or they had to ask a counselor or teacher. \u201cNow, every kid has access to a network. Every kid can find a job shadow connected to their career interest in northern Colorado without having to walk into a counselor\u2019s office.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n WBL coordinators can also connect students with programs they may not know about by being aware of their interests and what they\u2019ve discovered in Xello.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI did not expect the numbers of students who are using Xello on their own in summer or on weekends or at night with no one telling them to. They know where to find information so that student agency has been great.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to collaborating with other districts and workforce partners, Alcaraz says good relationships and a strategic plan<\/a> are key.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe tool is amazing, but it\u2019s still about the people. A funded intermediary or champion to help coordinate everything is essential. We\u2019re working on grants and aligning funding moving forward.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAnd <\/b>Xello is the beating heart at its center<\/b>.\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n
Accessibility is built in\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The right people in the right roles make all the difference<\/strong><\/h3>\n