NATIONAL CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATE

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• NATIONAL CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATE
• NCRC

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Snapshot of ACT

• Independent, not-for-profit corporation

• Founded in 1959 in Iowa City, IA

• Recognized worldwide as expert in educational
  measurement, research

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Snapshot of ACT

• Recognized for college readiness solutions, e.g.,
  the ACT assessment
• Pursuing our institutional mission
• Helping individuals achieve education and
  workplace success
• ACT solutions for the workforce
• Assessment tools
• Professional certification
• Data and research

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• Why the
• NATIONAL CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATE
• NCRC

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HIGH SCHOOL DATA

• National High School
• Graduation Rate
• 70.6
• High School Graduation
• Rate in Michigan
• 75

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HIGH SCHOOL DATA

• 100 high school students
• 75 graduate from high school
• 27 enter workforce with
• H S diplomas
• 48 continue to college
• - 30 seek bachelors degrees
• 11 graduate in 4 years
• 18 enter two-year institutions
• 11 do not complete a degree
• 25 drop out and enter workforce

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HIGH SCHOOL DATA

• 25 HS Drop Outs to Work World
• 27 HS Grads to Work World
• 23 2 or 4 year diploma seekers Drop Out and
  enter Work World
• 75 Workers in Michigan do not have a 2 or 4 year
  Degree
• They need an National Career Readiness
  Certificate

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ADULT DATA

• Michigan residents over 25
• 89 hold HS diploma or higher
• 25 hold bachelors Degree or higher
• Middle skill workers need the
• National Career
• Readiness Certificate

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ADULT DATA

• 1/3 of Working-Age Michigan Adults - 1.7 Million
  People - lack essential skills needed to obtain
  and hold a Family Sustaining Job
• 692,000 of these adults do not hold a GED or high
  school diploma

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ADULT DATA

• 1.15 Million working adults in Michigan with GEDs
  or high school diplomas - but no postsecondary
  experience - earn salaries at or below 15.45/Hr
  State Median Wage

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Manufacturing Jobs

• High Skill manufacturing jobs rose 37 over the
  past 20 years
• Low Skill manufacturing jobs declined 25 during
  this period

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• WHO DOES THE NATIONAL CAREER READINESS
  CERTIFICATE
• AND WHY

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EARLY ADOPTERS before the NCRC

• In the early 2000s 3 Programs
• Kentucky Jan 2003
• Louisiana Feb 2003
• Virginia Oct 2004

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GROWTH OF STATE PROGRAMS

• 2005-2007 14 More Programs
• Tennessee Oct 2005
• North Carolina Oct 2005
• Indiana Oct 2005
• West Virginia Jan 2006
• New Mexico July 2006
• Alabama Aug 2006 AUGUST 2006
• Georgia Aug 2006
• Oklahoma Oct 2006
• Florida Apr 2007
• Michigan May 2007
• South Carolina July 2007
• Kansas July 2007
• Ohio Sept 2007
• Missouri Oct 2007

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MORE GROWTH OF STATE PROGRAMS

• 2008 10 More Programs
• Arkansas Jan 2008
• Alaska April 2008
• Connecticut April 2008
• Oregon May 2008
• Wyoming May 2008
• Iowa June 2008
• Colorado June 2008
• Mississippi August 2008
• Connecticut Summer 08 Pilot
• Vermont Summer 08 Pilot

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WHO IS TALKING ABOUT IT

• 2008-2009
• Wisconsin Spring 09 Pilot
• South Dakota 09 Pilot
• North Dakota 09 Legislation
• Montana Spring 09 Pilot
• Pennsylvania May 09 Decision

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The Most Comprehensive Assessment of Workplace
Skills

• Problem Solving
• Applied Mathematics
• Applied Technology
• Locating Information
• Observation
• Interpersonal Skills
• Teamwork

• Communication
• Business Writing
• Listening
• Reading for Information
• Writing
• NEW!
• Personal Skills
• Performance
• Talent
• Fit

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NCRC

• Reading for Information
• Applied Mathematics
• Locating Information

85 of ALL profiled occupations utilize these
skills
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Certificate Levels
Core employability skills for approximately 35
of jobs Core employability skills for
approximately 65 of jobs Core employability
skills for approximately 90 of jobs

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The National Career Readiness System

• Promotes a common language for employers,
  individuals, educators
• Provides a standard method for measuring,
  comparing work skills
• Integrates workforce strategies at the state,
  regional, national levels
• Connects employer hiring needs to skilled
  individuals seeking careers

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Shared Benefits
Employers get meaningful evidence of skills that
lead to performance Educators receive clear
picture of employer expectations on
skills Individuals gain rewards for achieving
precise levels of skills that lead to jobs
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Individual Benefits

• Demonstrate essential skills that distinguish
  qualified applicants
• Identify skill gaps and adopt strategies to close
  those gaps
• Rank above competing applicants or incumbents
  for placement/ promotion

10-Nov-06
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Educator Benefits

• Focus training on specific skill gaps
• Demonstrate student progress
• Link academic preparation to career planning and
  job opportunities
• Share common language with employers
• Enhance student employability

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Employer Benefits

• Identify key skill requirements for jobs
• Identify pool of skilled job applicants
• Match employee skills to job requirements
• Align training initiatives for incumbent workers
  to specific job skill requirements
• Communicate effectively with educators
• Improve employee retention, performance

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NCRC- Healthcare
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Higher Skills Higher Pay
Sources Bureau of Labor Statistics, ACT data
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WorkKeys Help

• Help Desk 1-800-WorkKeys 800-867-5539
• ACT WebSite www.act.org
• NCRC www.NationalCareerReadiness.com
• NCRC www.myworkkeys.com