career certification, education, GED, High school equivalency

Career Online High School

Statewide

Fifteen Colorado libraries offer online, options to getting your high school diploma and career certification programs. Click on the website for the list of libraries, then click on library link for more info about your library. This is a great opportunity to complete high school online!

college classes online

Class Central

Statewide

Class Central provides a list of 500 free online courses from Ivy League colleges such as Princeton and Harvard. Really!

certificates, Community college, degrees, governance, remedial courses

Colorado Community College System

9101 E. Lowry Blvd., Denver CO 80230

Statewide

Statewide

The Colorado Community College System is the governing body for all community and technical colleges in the state. Community colleges offer a variety of remedial education classes to prepare for the college classroom. To get to the full list of community colleges in the state, click on the website and then click on "Our Colleges" for a drop-down link for each community college.

certificates, college, degree, governance, higher education, post-secondary

Colorado Department of Higher Education

1600 Broadway, Suite 2200, Denver CO 80202

Statewide

The Colorado Department of Higher Education is the governing body for all public post-secondary institutions in Colorado. The website has info if you want to attend a college or university in Colorado and has lists and links to Colorado’s public and private schools, as well as other helpful information.

scholarship, youth

Colorado Second Chance Scholarship

Statewide

If you were released from the Division of Youth Services in Colorado within the past five years, you may be eligible for an annual $10,000 scholarship! It's called the Second Chance Scholarship program, and the purpose of the program is to help people who were committed to DYS while a youth. The funds are to be used for postsecondary education. The deadline to apply for this year is April 15, 2020. Click on the website to learn more about eligibility and the program. You may also call 303-974-2499 or email secondchance@dhe.state.co.us for more information.

drop out recovery, education, High school

Colorado Youth for a Change

2490 West 26th Ave, Building A, Suite 110, Denver Colorado 80211

Statewide

Denver

Colorado Youth for a Change provides support and information for people up to age 21 who didn't finish high school. Call the number listed for help.

computers, internet

Comcast Internet Essentials

Statewide

Comcast's Internet Essentials is a high-speed, low-cost internet service for eligible low-income households at a cost of $9.95 per month. Wireless Wi-Fi is included. The program is open to anyone eligible for public help, from food stamps and Pell Grants to Medicaid. Click on the website to learn more.

curious, education, learning

Complexly

Statewide

Complexly posts educational videos done by a group of people who try to make things easier to understand. Click on the website, then click on Our Shows. This is really fun!

education, learning

Crash Course

Statewide

The Crash Course folks believe that high quality educational videos should be available to everyone for free. The Crash Course team has produced more than 15 courses to date, and these videos accompany high school and college level classes ranging from the humanities to the sciences.

education, online, self-taught

Curious

Statewide

Curious is an online website to learn something new every day. It has free membership access and over 1,000 courses. An online account is required.

college, education, free, online, postsecondary, self-taught

Ed-X

Statewide

Ed-X provides free college level courses to learn at your own pace. Subjects include computer science, languages, engineering, business, technology, and many more. It is free and online although you do need to create an account to register.

college, education, educational opportunity center, TRIO

Educational Opportunity Centers and TRIO Student Support Services

Statewide

Educational Opportunity Centers and TRIO student support services are federally funded and are designed for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or first generation college students. They exist at most public colleges in Colorado where a specialist will help you plan your education, counsel you on careers, and advise you on financial aid. Contact the school you are interested in attending to find out if they have a TRIO program or an Educational Opportunity Center.

college, education, Financial aid

Federal Student Aid

Statewide

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is an online application that determines if you are eligible for a Pell grant as well as other grants and loans to help you pay for college. Use the website link to submit the application online or call the main line to ask for a paper copy. To learn more, it’s best to make an appointment with the financial aid office at the school you want to attend. They will provide support for the FAFSA application and provide education on other financial aid options.

education, online, self-taught

GCF LearnFree Program

Statewide

The GCF LearnFree Program offers free online classes in technology, reading, math, core skills, career planning, and more.

education, GED, High school equivalency

GED and HiSET Info

201 East Colfax Ave., Denver CO 80203

Statewide

The Colorado Department of Education provides info on the GED and HiSET high school equivalency tests. Click on the website and you'll find a list of test centers and more resources on the far right of the page.

education, GED, High school equivalency

GED Diploma

Statewide

if you need a copy of your high school equivalency testing documentation, click on the website to create an account and fill in your identification information to receive a copy. There is a fee and you do need to proivde the exact name you used when you were tested.

career certification, education, GED, High school equivalency

GED Support Center

1850 M Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Statewide

If you started your GED testing but did not complete it while you were incarcerated, call the GED Support Center at 1-877-392-6433. Ask them to change your status from inmate to non-inmate. Check out the website for more information. It is free to set up an account.

IT, reentry, training

Justice Reskill

4800 Baseline Road, E104 #386, Boulder CO 80303

Statewide

Boulder

Justice Reskill is a nonprofit organization that works to secure greater opportunity and long-term financial stability for the justice-involved community. Their free reskilling platform teaches both technical and essential skills to provide a new pathway towards lasting career success in the IT field. They believe in supporting people as their whole selves (rather than focusing on singular skills), which guides everything they do from their accessible learning platform and diverse speaker programming, to their vibrant network of support made of folks with similar lived experiences. They offer their programs in partnership with the Department of Corrections as well as many Colorado reentry community partners. If you would like to learn more, please email info@justicereskill.com or call the number listed below.

arts, college, computing, economic, education, elementary, engineering, finance, free, humanities, math, math by grade, online, postsecondary, science, secondary, self-taught, test preparation

Khan Academy

Statewide

Khan Academy is an online resource to take classes in math, science, arts, economics, and much more. Classes start at the elementary level and go through college, AND it's free. Take a moment to watch this video of Jason Spyres, who used transcripts from Khan Academy classes (mailed to him by his mother) to prepare for college while he was incarcerated. He's now out and studying computer science at Stanford!

career planning, college admission test preparation, cover letters, ESL and high school equivalency test preparation

Learning Express

Statewide

EBSCO's Learning Express is a great resource when you're trying to improve yourself. For example, you can get free career preparation, free high school equivalency test preparation, free college admission test preparation, and much more. All it requires is a library card, which you can get through any public library in Colorado. Type "Tutorial Video" into the search bar to set up your free account and to learn more about their opportunities. When you're registering for an account, be sure to use your library card number as a user name. If you don't have a library card, ask library staff to help you.

education, in-person, library, online

Libraries

Statewide

Many public libraries have free online courses and in-person courses. Look on the website to find your community library and contact information. Also, check out the Libraries section on remerg.com for more info.

phones

Lifeline Assistance – Free Phones

Statewide

Lifeline Assistance provides low cost or free phone services. Look on the website for a statewide list of phone companies that participate in the Lifeline Assistance program. If you receive a benefit such as SNAP, you're probably eligible for a free phone. Some re-entry organizations provide them, and ask the Department of Human Services office if you qualify for benefits.

education, ESL, GED, GED classes, High school equivalency

Literacy Coalition of Colorado

Statewide list of local classes to help you study for the high school equivalency tests

Statewide

The Literacy Coalition of Colorado is the only statewide list of places that provide preparation for high school equivalency tests. A Spanish instruction class list is also available on the website. Click on the website link, then click on Locate Classes. You'll find a list of adult education, ESL and high school equivalency test preparation classes!

college, education, free, online, postsecondary, self-taught

MOOCS

Statewide

MOOCs stands for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). The website provides a list of free online courses which are all free. You will need to create an online account.

college, education knowledge

My Colorado Journey

Statewide

My Colorado Journey, formerly College in Colorado, is an online tool to learn about going to college, financial aid, career options, training options, money management, and much more. You will need to create an account with a profile, which can take a few minutes. Then you'll be able to check through the tools on the website.

college, life skills education, school to adult life, Special needs

Students with Disabilities

1560 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver CO 80202

Statewide

Click on the website to see resources for School to Adult Life resources for students with disabilities and to read Colorado Options: A Handbook of Postsecondary Education Services for Students with Disabilities. It explains the options around the state for any student with disabilities. If you have a disability, be sure to ask at your school if they have a Disability Resources and Services Office. All schools and colleges should offer this service.

college, education, Life skills, Veterans

Upward Bound Veterans

Statewide

Upward Bound Veterans programs are located at Metro State University of Denver, Colorado State University in Pueblo, Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, and Colorado State University in Fort Collins. These programs provide support with basic skills, counseling, mentoring, tutoring, and academic instruction in core subject areas.To find your school’s Upward Bound Veterans program, look on your college’s website.