Colorado SWAP Program: How the School to Work Alliance Program Works

A Joint Program Between Schools and DVR for Work-Ready Students

The School to Work Alliance Program is one of Colorado's most practical — and least talked about — transition resources. SWAP is a formal partnership between the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and local school districts that puts transition-age students with disabilities into real work experiences before they leave school.

Unlike Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), which provides early career exploration starting at age 15, SWAP targets students who are closer to school exit and ready for short-term, employment-focused services. The program is designed for youth with mild to moderate barriers to employment — students who need structured support to land and keep a first job, but who don't require long-term intensive coaching.

How SWAP Works

SWAP operates through a cooperative agreement between the local DVR office and the student's school district. The school identifies students who are on track for competitive employment and refers them to DVR. A vocational rehabilitation counselor then works with the student and the IEP team to develop an employment plan.

The services SWAP typically funds include:

• Career exploration activities — job shadowing, workplace tours, informational interviews with local employers
• Paid summer work experiences — structured placements with community employers, often the student's first paid job
• Job-seeking skills training — resume writing, interview practice, workplace communication
• Short-term job coaching — on-site support during the first weeks of employment to help the student build routines and learn expectations
• Assistive technology or workplace tools — if the student needs specific equipment or modifications to perform the job

The key distinction: SWAP is short-term and outcomes-focused. The goal is competitive integrated employment — a real job at prevailing wages in a community setting, not a sheltered workshop placement.

Who Qualifies

SWAP serves students who:

• Have a documented disability (IEP, 504 Plan, or other documented impairment)
• Are in their final years of high school or enrolled in 18-to-21 transition programming
• Have mild to moderate employment barriers
• Are ready for short-term vocational services rather than long-term supported employment

Students with more significant support needs — those who will need ongoing job coaching or who are pursuing waiver-funded supported employment — typically access services through DVR's individualized vocational rehabilitation track or through adult waiver programs instead.

How to Get a SWAP Referral

The referral runs through the cooperative school-DVR partnership. The school transition coordinator can connect the student to the local DVR office, and parents can contact DVR directly for the program's referral steps.

At the IEP meeting, ask the team specifically whether your student is a candidate for SWAP. If the school doesn't have an active SWAP partnership with DVR, ask the transition coordinator to initiate one — the CDE/DVR Memorandum of Understanding establishes the framework.

SWAP vs Pre-ETS vs Full DVR Services

These three tracks serve different stages and support levels:

• Pre-ETS (age 15+): Early career awareness — job exploration counseling, workplace readiness training, self-advocacy instruction. No formal DVR application required.
• SWAP (final school years): Short-term employment placement for work-ready students. Cooperative school-DVR referral.
• Full DVR/IPE (approaching school exit): Individualized Plan for Employment with a VR counselor. Can fund vocational training, assistive technology, intensive job coaching, and long-term placement support.

Many students progress through all three: Pre-ETS builds awareness, SWAP provides the first work experience, and full DVR services support the post-school employment transition.

The Colorado IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide includes a DVR referral timeline and checklists for each track, so you can coordinate SWAP, Pre-ETS, and full VR services into one coherent employment plan.

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