Externship

Application

The CAEC Educator Externship is a professional development experience that places adult education professionals with employers and industry partners to strengthen workforce knowledge, build employer partnerships, and improve education-to-career pathways for adult learners. .

Program Goals

Be a sustainable state-level program that pairs adult basic educators with employers.
Offer a broad menu of differentiated externship options across the state.
Ensure equitable access to externship opportunities for externs and businesses.
Provide resources and support by expanding their network of potential business partners.

How does it work?

Selected businesses publish descriptions of their operations and the type of externship opportunities they are offering.
Educators select externships that align with their interests and needs.
After an initial match, educators and businesses may work together to customize the ideal externship experience for both parties.
CAEC provides support for the partnerships through preparation, orientation workshops and resources to assist with defining program structure and expectations/deliverables.
CAEC tracks data about outcomes and publishes testimonials from participants.
Paid stipend, based on funding available.

In 2023, Colorado established the statewide Teacher Externship Program through House Bill 23-1198, administered by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE).

Colorado does not have a statewide externship program designed specifically for adult basic education professionals.

Establishing a statewide Adult Basic Educator Externship Program would build on the success of Colorado's K–12 Teacher Externship model by providing adult educators with meaningful industry experiences that strengthen workforce-aligned instruction and career pathway development.

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. (n.d.). Program models. https://cdle.colorado.gov/jobs-training/teacher-externship-program/program-models

Thank you
to our Partners!

Infleqtion Externship

Workforce Immersion Experience in collaboration with Infleqtion, a global leader in quantum technology. Infleqtion develops cutting-edge neutral atom solutions for quantum computing, quantum networking, precision sensing, and cybersecurity.

Through this immersive experience, educators gain firsthand exposure to emerging quantum technologies, advanced manufacturing environments, and high-demand careers.

Participants deepened their understanding of Colorado's growing quantum ecosystem and explore strategies for integrating future-focused workforce skills, career pathways, and industry partnerships into adult education and workforce development programs.

What are the key differences between an externship and an internship in terms of duration, pay, and responsibilities?

House Bill 23-1198 established Colorado's Teacher Externship Program to provide K–12 public school teachers with work-based learning experiences that expand their industry knowledge and strengthen classroom instruction, particularly in STEM and other high-demand fields.

Externships Provide Stronger Industry-Academia Feedback Loops: When educational institutions build robust externship pipelines with employers, academic programs gather real-time insights into evolving workforce needs. This leads to updated university curricula and better preparation for future graduating cohorts.

Teacher Climate Jobs Externship

Workforce Immersion Experience collaborated the Colorado Energy Office in collaboration with the African American Trade Association (AATA), GRID Alternatives, and Dandelion Energy.

This experience provided valuable insights into emerging career opportunities in Home Efficiency & Electrification, Geothermal Heating & Cooling, and Solar Energy while connecting education leaders directly with industry experts and workforce partners.As Colorado continues to invest in clean energy and infrastructure, adult education programs have a unique opportunity to align learning with high-demand careers.

Building strong partnerships between education, workforce development, employers, unions, and apprenticeship programs can help learners access family-sustaining careers while supporting Colorado's growing workforce needs.

Faster Adaptability to Future AI & Technological Shifts: As automation and AI rapidly alter job roles, future workers will need to evaluate changing fields quickly. Externships allow rising generations to observe how new tools and technologies are actually applied in real time without waiting for academic curricula to catch up.

Colorado Department of Agriculture Laboratory Services Externship

Participated in a Workforce Immersion Experience hosted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, providing firsthand exposure to the Division of Laboratory Services.

Explored how state laboratory professionals conduct chemical, microbiological, and instrumental analyses on samples related to animal feed, animal health, pesticides, soil, water, and hemp.

Learned how laboratory testing supports public health, agriculture, environmental quality, and regulatory compliance, while also gaining insight into the division's role in providing measurement standards and calibration services for field inspectors and external partners.

This externship strengthened understanding of Colorado's agricultural infrastructure and the connection between science, workforce development, and industry.

Reduced Career Friction and Early Turnover: Experiencing daily industry realities early prevents future workers from spending yearsand tens of thousands of dollars pursuing degrees or careers they ultimately dislike. This leads to higher long-term job satisfaction and lower early-career burnout across the broader workforce.

Colorado Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Externship

Participants completed a three-day immersive externship focused on Colorado's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), gaining firsthand experience with residential energy audits, weatherization measures, home performance diagnostics, and energy efficiency practices.

Throughout the externship, participants observed energy audits, installation of weatherization measures, and final quality inspections while learning about insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling system performance, ventilation, appliance efficiency, indoor air quality, energy modeling, and opportunities within Colorado's growing clean energy workforce.

The experience concluded with collaborative lesson planning, during which participants developed classroom activities that connected industry knowledge and weatherization concepts to career pathway instruction, helping prepare adult learners for careers in energy efficiency and the clean energy sector.