Scholarships Open the Door — Wraparound Services Help Students Walk Through It

steve bates
6 days ago
3 min read

Colorado is seeing a surge in high school students taking college‑level courses — a promising trend that shows young people are eager to gain skills that lead to meaningful employment. According to a recent report highlighted by Chalkbeat Colorado, about 40% of community college enrollment now consists of high school students earning college credits. More than 40,000 Colorado high schoolers participated in dual enrollment in fall 2025, an increase of over 3,000 from the previous year.

But the same report makes something else clear: access alone isn’t enough.

Colorado students — especially those from low‑income families — still face barriers that prevent them from fully benefiting from these opportunities. And the state’s own experts acknowledge that no current model provides the wraparound support students need to succeed.

This is exactly where BPI’s dual approach — scholarships + grants for wraparound services — becomes essential.

Dual Enrollment Is Growing, But Gaps Persist

The report from the Community College Research Center warns that growth in dual enrollment does not automatically translate into quality or equitable outcomes. States, including Colorado, must rethink how they support students academically, financially, and in career planning.

The article highlights several challenges:

Funding gaps mean students still pay for books, materials and fees, even in “low‑cost” programs. For low-income families these fees can be the difference between registering for a skills-based program or skipping it.
Racial and socioeconomic disparities persist in who earns college credits through dual enrollment. Financially disadvantaged students are often overlooked in the push for college access.
Many students accumulate credits that don’t align with a clear career pathway, described as “random acts of dual enrollment”. Being educated does not equal being skilled. Like many states, Colorado is struggling with linking post-secondary education to actual employment outcomes in a timely manner, especially for low-income students.
And critically: no statewide model currently provides the wraparound support students need to navigate these programs successfully. Our local-to-local service model provides personalized relationships, but the variation, quality, and access to critical services vary widely across the state, especially in rural communities.

In other words, Colorado teens are being offered a door — but many still lack the resources to walk through it.

Why Scholarships Alone Aren’t Enough

At BPI, we’ve seen firsthand that financial aid is only one piece of the puzzle.

A scholarship may cover tuition, but it doesn’t cover:

Transportation to campus and work
Childcare
Language support
Required tools, uniforms, or materials
Certification exam fees
Academic or career advising
Mentorship
Stability supports like food, housing, or mental health resources

For low-income students, any one of these areas can create an obstacle that is too high to overcome, derailing their education and access to the workforce.

The Chalkbeat article reinforces this reality: even with dual enrollment, students still face financial barriers and support gaps that limit their ability to complete courses, earn credentials, and transition into high‑demand careers.

Without wraparound services, many teens — especially those from low‑income families — simply cannot take full advantage of the opportunities dual enrollment is meant to provide.

Wraparound Services Are the Missing Link to Economic Mobility

The report calls for states to strengthen academic, financial, and career advising, and to ensure students earn credits that actually lead to jobs or degrees that matter. It also emphasizes the need for clear pathways, not just scattered and general college credits.

This aligns directly with BPI’s mission.

Our grants to local nonprofits fund the very supports the report identifies as essential:

Skills-based credentials that translate to in-demand jobs
Mentorship and coaching
Transportation, tools, and materials
Work‑based learning opportunities
Stability supports that keep students on track

These services ensure that students aren’t just enrolled — they’re equipped.

They’re not just earning credits — they’re earning credentials that lead to meaningful employment.

They’re not just accessing opportunity — they’re achieving economic mobility.

Colorado’s Future Depends on Both Access and Support

Colorado is working toward a goal of ensuring every high school student completes at least one college class, earns 12 college credits, or participates in work‑based learning before graduation. It’s an ambitious and important vision.

But the Chalkbeat article makes clear that access without support will leave too many students behind.

BPI’s model — combining scholarships with grants for wraparound services — directly addresses the gaps identified in the report. It ensures that Colorado teens in financial need not only reach the starting line, but have the tools, guidance, and stability to cross the finish line. As a result of this model, we have supported over Colroado 400 students eliminate the barriers to their success.

Because meaningful employment isn’t achieved through coursework alone. It’s achieved through opportunity + support + pathway clarity.

And that is exactly what BPI delivers.