Path4Ward Pilot Program for Early High School Graduates - Pursuant to C.R.S. 23-3.3-1305 - 2025 Report to Education Committees

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle

Path4Ward is a pilot initiative funded by the State of Colorado for low-income students who graduate early from high school and pursue postsecondary education and training. Scholarship amounts depend on how early students graduate, with 2024-25 reporting 381 eligible early graduates from 25 participating high schools and prior-year students accepting $234,631 in scholarships. Funding supported 20 postsecondary programs. A 2024-25 review with the Colorado Department of Education refined eligibility understanding and reduced the number of truly eligible students, while partner-provider withdrawal and HB24-1392 limited new LEP additions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Program Progress

Program Eligibility Adjustments

Program Data for Year 4 (Fiscal Year 2024-25)

Conclusion

Path4Ward Pilot Program for Early High School Graduates Pursuant to C.R.S. 23-3.3-1305, Fourth-Year Innovation Program 2025 The Colorado Department of Higher Education Report to the Education Committees of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, the Colorado Department of Education and the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting Statute: 23-3.3-1305 The Colorado Department of Higher Education (DHE), under its own authority and through the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE), oversees and coordinates policy for 31 public institutions of higher education (including community colleges, independent local district colleges and local area technical colleges) and authorizes and regulates private colleges, universities and occupational schools. Mission – We support students, advocate and develop policies to maximize higher education opportunities for all. Vision – All Coloradans will have an education beyond high school to pursue their dreams and improve our communities. Prepared and submitted by the Colorado Department of Higher Education under the Executive Leadership of Dr. Angie Paccione Pursuant to the statutory authority of 23-3.3-1305 November 2025 1600 Broadway, Suite 2200, Denver, CO 80202 For more information contact: Student Success and Academic Affairs Division Peter Fritz, Director of Student Transitions and Degree Completion Initiatives [cdhe.path4ward@dhe.state.co.us](cdhe.path4ward@dhe.state.co.us) Executive Summary The Path4Ward program is a pilot initiative that awards state funding to low-income students who graduate early from high school to pursue postsecondary education and training. Program funding amounts, determined by statute, are based on how early each student graduated: up to $4,113 for graduating before the start of their fourth year of high school, and up to $2,468 for graduating before the start of the second semester of their fourth year. During the 2024-25 fiscal year, which was the fourth year of this five-year pilot, 381 eligible early graduates were reported from 25 participating high schools. Seventy-five eligible students from prior program years accepted scholarships totaling $234,631 in FY 2024-25. Students used their Path4Ward funds at 20 different postsecondary programs, including private occupational schools, two-year colleges, technical colleges, and four-year universities. The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) partnered with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) during the 2024-25 program cycle to perform a comprehensive review of the student lists provided by LEPs for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. This review led to improvements in understanding of eligibility criteria by Local Education Providers (LEPs) and reduced the number of truly eligible students in 2024-25. The Path4Ward pilot program, from year three to four, has shown signs of stabilizing in terms of the number of qualified early graduates reported, total expenditures for student scholarships, and payments to LEPs. Per HB24-1392, no new LEPs have been added to the pilot program since the 2023- 24 academic year, and low scholarship utilization rates among eligible students from the original group of LEPs have continued into year four. This may be due, in part, to the withdrawal of two third-party entities which provided staff for student support services and outreach in the first three years of the program. These two external nonprofits were funded independently through a grant from Colorado Succeeds, and the grant was unable to renew funding for FY 2024-25 and future years. Early graduates during the 2024-25 academic year were therefore the first cohort that did not receive direct support and advising services from these partner agencies. Table of Contents Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 5 Program Progress................

FAQs

What is the Path4Ward pilot program and who is eligible?

Path4Ward provides state-funded scholarships for low-income students who graduate at least one semester early from participating high schools. Eligibility includes students on the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program at any point in grades 8–12 or students eligible for a federal Pell grant.

How are scholarship amounts determined under Path4Ward?

Scholarship funding is based on how early each student graduated. Amounts can be up to $4,113 for graduating before the start of the fourth year and up to $2,468 for graduating before the start of the second semester of the fourth year.

What changed for eligibility review and LEP participation in 2024-25?

During the 2024-25 cycle, CDHE partnered with CDE to conduct a comprehensive review of student lists, improving understanding of eligibility criteria and reducing the number of truly eligible students. Per HB24-1392, no new LEPs were added since the 2023-24 academic year.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle