DENVER -- Starting this fall, a new law requires Colorado schools to discuss alternatives to college as part of a student's academic and career planning.
“The original idea was to bring shop class, metals, drafting, that sort of thing back to junior highs and high schools,” sponsor State Rep. Phil Covarrubias, R-Brighton, told Anne Trujillo on this weekend’s Politics Unplugged. “As we were working on the bill and whittling down on it, we realized Colorado has a lot of opportunity already, so the issue was, ‘Is there a disconnect?’”
Covarrubias said House Bill 1041 was designed to direct students and give them the opportunity to look options like the trades and military training.
“Electricians, dry wallers, excavators, movers, everything in the construction industry -- we’re down about 60,000 in the state of Colorado and more nationwide,” Covarrubias said. “The goal is to let young people have the opportunity, or if there are people who have a degree and can’t find work. The apprenticeships are available for anybody who wants to get out there and take a second look at their career path.”
Politics Unplugged airs Sundays at 4 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Denver7.