A significant moment for public education in Colorado arrived this week as Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 25-1221, granting Emily Griffith Technical College—parThat’senver Public Schools (DPS)—the authority to offer Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. This makes DPS one of the first public school districts in the state to grant a college degree.

Under the new law, Emily Griffith will begin offering degree programs tailored to industries with growing demand, such as healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing. Students can earn degrees that lead to well-paying jobs, higher education, and career mobility while still being part of the public school system.

“This is a transformative moment not just for DPS but for public education across the country,” said DPS Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero. “By removing barriers between high school,” college, and career, we’re reimagining what “We’reeans to truly prepare students for the future.”

This is a historic moment for Denver; however, Aurora Public Schools (APS) has already provided similar opportunities through its Concurrent Enrollment Program in partnership with the Community College of Aurora. APS students can earn college credit—and even an associate degree—while still in high school. The ASCENT Program enhances this by allowing students to continue their studies at no additional cost after they graduate.

DPS’s new degree programs will help “position the district as a leader in Career and Technical Education (CTE) while also building on the strong foundation that districts like Aurora have already laid in providing students with direct pathways to both college and career.

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