(1) No later than the 2014-15 academic year, the board, after consulting with local district colleges and area technical colleges, in collaboration with the department of labor and employment, the department of higher education, the department of education, and the state work force development council, created in section 24-46.3-101, C.R.S., shall design a career pathway for students within the manufacturing sector. The manufacturing career pathway shall connect school districts, local district colleges, area technical colleges, community colleges, and four-year institutions of higher education with adult education programs, local workforce development programs, and regional manufacturing sector partnerships, and will allow a student to earn income while progressing along the career pathway.

(2) The manufacturing career pathway must include industry-validated stackable certifications and multiple entry and exit points that allow students of all ages to seek additional opportunities in the manufacturing sector. The manufacturing career pathway designed by the board must include, but need not be limited to, the following components:

(a) Alignment with the skills and requirements that state and local manufacturing sector employers, through manufacturing sector partnerships, determine are necessary for career progression in high-demand occupations within the manufacturing sector;

(b) A full range of middle school, secondary, adult education, and postsecondary education options, with a nonduplicative, clearly articulated course progression from one level of instruction to the next, with opportunities to earn postsecondary credits, maximize credit for prior learning, and secure industry-validated credentials;

(c) Technical skill assessments at multiple points in the manufacturing career pathway that lead to industry certifications or other value in employment, including advanced placement into a higher level of training;

(d) Academic and career counseling resources, best practices in wraparound support services, particularly at transition points along the manufacturing career pathway, and support and development of individual career and academic plans; and

(e) Curriculum and instructional strategies that are appropriate for adult students and that embed learning and skill building in a work-related context.