Career Development Incentive Program

Colorado Career Development and Industry Credentials Communications Toolkit

Resources are available to support school and district leaders as they increase student and family access to, awareness of, and engagement in high-demand and low-supply industry credentials and opportunities that students have to prepare for earning them while in high school. View the recording of the webinar held on May 5, 2022 demonstrating how to utilize the Toolkit.

Learn more about the Career Development &
Industry Credentials Communications Toolkit

The PWR of Career Development Success Program

The Career Development Incentive Program (CDIP), or Career Development Success Program, provides financial incentives for school districts and charter schools that encourage high school students, grades 9-12, to complete:

Tier 1: Qualified industry credential programs, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships;

Tier 2: Workplace training programs (internships); or

Tier 3: Computer Science Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

Participating districts, charter schools, or BOCES could receive up to $1,000 for each pupil who completes a program, and 120% of the per-pupil amount for each pupil who is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, distributed in tiered order.

2024-25 Program Participation

98 school districts (85 in 2023-24) reported students who completed qualified industry credential programs. 36 were categorized as small rural, and 32 were categorized as rural.
There was a 42.3% increase in programs reported from 2023-24. A total of 32,188 qualifying programs were reported. 14,153 in tier one were funded due to available appropriations.
As required by Colorado Revised Statute 22-54-138, participating districts or charter schools cannot receive a distribution of more than ten percent of the total number of completed industry certificates reported by districts and charter schools. Therefore, one district received funding for only 1,118 certificates, rather than the amount reported, thus reducing the number of credentials funded.

Quick Links

Funding Details
Year	Programs Reported	Programs Funded	Amount Funded	Funding per Program/Pupil
2016-17	3,106	1,807	$1,000,000	$553.40
2017-18	5,777	3,688	$2,000,000	$542.30
2018-19	6,764	5,133	$4,800,000	$935.13
2019-20	9,110	6,441	$4,279,837	$664.47
2020-21*	6,709	6,147	$6,033,028	$981.46
2021-22	12,573	9,130	$4,286,089	$469.45
2022-23	20,297	10,791	$4,214,771	$443.81 (FRL) $369.96 (Non-FRL)
2023-24	22,618	11,362	$9,214,822	$913.37 (FRL) $761.14 (Non-FRL)
2024-25	32,188	14,153	$4,636,010	$335.40 (FRL) $279.50 (Non-FRL)

*For program year 2020-21, CDIP received $1.5 million in ARPA funds. This allowed our office to fund an additional $43.11 to meet the maximum funding of $1000 in Tier 1, plus fund the maximum of $1000 in Tier 2, and $806.50 in Tier 3.

Credential Breakdown 2023-24

Qualified Programs	# Reported by Districts	# Funded	$ Amount Funded
Industry-Recognized Certifications	25,133	13,520	Tier 1
Pre- Apprenticeships	721	497	Tier 1
Apprenticeships	161	139	Tier 1
Internships	3,515	0	Tier 2
Advanced Placement Computer Science Courses	2,658	0	Tier 3
Total	22,618	14,156	$4,636,010.60

Gender Breakdown 2024-25

Male	33.07%
Female	66.85%
Non-Binary	0.08%

Resources

2024-25 CDIP Participation Data
2025-26 List of Approved Programs
Approved Programs Request Process
The 2024 Colorado Talent Pipeline Report: The Talent Pipeline Report explores issues related to the demand for and supply of talent in Colorado and strategies for strengthening our talent pipeline.

Legislative Resources

Webinars

2024-25 Data Submission Webinar: February 11, 2025
- Recording and Slides
- Topics: 2024-25 CDIP program updates, accountability, review of newly approved certifications, removals, and updated guidance on apprenticeships