Developing Homegrown Talent

Eight rural school districts are using career-connected learning to contribute to the local communities' workforce The Homegrown Talent Initiative, launched in 2019, is based on the bold premise that school districts can be engines of growth for rural communities and their economies. Districts did this in three key ways: * Implementing new school schedules so students have the chance to participate in internships and college classes; * Milking changes to graduation requirements so students leave school with the skills they need to be successful; and * Integrating strategic priorities to make careerconnected learning a part of how the district operates. [...]students now must complete a global studies elective and another semester-long class that builds postsecondary skilLs, such as (Teating a resume and applying for a job. Colorado gives districts the flexibility to customize graduation requirements, but school leaders often benefit from outside help with leveraging that flexibility. ПП coaches help school district leaders make sense of the states graduation policy and understand how it can be used to expand access to career-connected learning.