Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee

Research Committee Membership Kelly Arrington – Dept. of Career & Tech Ed. Stephanie Curtis – State Dept. of Ed. Susan Kuzmic – Dept. of Career &Tech Ed. Mary Bruton – ACT Belinda McCharen – Oklahoma State University Chad Mullen – Oklahoma Employment Security Commission Julie Noble - ACT Rosemary Roelf - ACT Debra Stuart – OK State Regents of Higher Ed. Levi Valdois – Dept. of Career and Tech Ed. Jeff Wallace – OK Office of Accountability

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Research Results Section I: Comparing Oklahoma’s Examinees to U.S. Examinees Section II: Certificate Level Achievement and Skill Deficiencies Section III: Combining Career Ready Certificate and OESC Records Section IV: Case Study of Career Development Programs in Oklahoma Section V: Research Projects

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Section I: Comparing Oklahoma’s Examinees to U.S. Examinees Over 80,000 Oklahomans have taken the three WorkKeys tests (Reading for Information, Applied Math, and Locating Information) at various sites across the state. Since the program was initiated in 2006, over 66,000 Oklahomans have been issued the Oklahoma Career Ready Certificate based on their scores on the WorkKeys tests. The following data was developed with the assistance of ACT, the Dept. of Career and Tech. Ed, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, and other partners as identified. Overview

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Comparing Oklahoma’s Examinees to U.S. Examinees The data indicate that the Oklahoma WorkKeys tested population has achieved scores comparable to the national WorkKeys tested population.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Section II: Certificate Level Achievement and Skill Deficiencies While the fact that Oklahoma has issued over 66,000 CRCs is significant, of even greater significance is an analysis of what is keeping some participants in the testing program from the receipt of a CRC. The following charts, provided by an ACT analysis of OK WorkKeys scores, identify skill deficiencies that need instructional intervention to assure that all Oklahomans are WorkReady. Overview

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee The Locating Information test is the primary obstacle preventing and examinee from receiving a CRC.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Again, the Locating Information test is most likely to be responsible for preventing a CRC holder from obtaining a higher certificate level.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Overcoming Barriers to Attainment Utilization of KeyTrain for Remediation  Proven successful in programs throughout the state.  Claremore High School  Canadian Valley Technology Center

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Section III: Combining Career Ready Certificate and OESC Records Overview OK counties containing the most, and least number of CRC recipients were able to be determined by merging OESC records with CRC recipient records. In addition, a variety of other information, as evidenced in the following, was obtained in this fashion. The use of the term “labor force” includes all employed and all those seeking employment.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Oklahoma, Tulsa, Grady, Muskogee, and Mayes counties have the most CRC credentialed individuals. Harper, Harmon, Tillman, Beaver, and Cimarron counties have the fewest. CRC Credentialed Individuals by County January 2006 through September 2011

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Percent of Labor Force Comprised of CRC Credentialed Individuals as of September 2011 Mayes, Seminole, Atoka, Adair, and Grady counties have the largest percent of CRC credentialed individuals in the labor force. Texas, Kingfisher, Beaver, and Cimarron counties have the smallest percent.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Oklahoma’s Work Ready Communities

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Age Distribution – CRC Credentialed Individuals v. All Workers CRC Credentialed individuals tend to be younger than the general workforce.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Top Five Industries of Employment of CRC Credentialed Individuals The largest concentration of CRC credentialed individuals is found in the Accommodation and Food Services sector.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Employment Projections and Industry Concentration of CRC Credentialed Individuals

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Employment Projections and Industry Concentration of CRC Credentialed Individuals

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Section IV: Case Study of Career Development Programs in Oklahoma Conducted by Belinda McCharen, Ed.D.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee The Study The study’s purpose was to determine the components of a quality career development program and effective support systems. The study was also designed to investigate how two sites utilize the CRC as part of a career development program. The two organizations studied were the Choctaw Nation and the Tri County Technology Center.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee The Findings The need for a specialized workforce has increased exponentially over the decades. Employers need a mechanism to sort out who is capable of work and who is not. The majority of jobs in the U.S. are middle-skills jobs (more than a high school diploma, less than a four-year degree). A recent study by BLS indicates that in just three years an estimated 45% of all jobs will be middle-skills jobs while only 25% of the workforce will be qualified to perform them.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee The Findings The CRC was perceived as real-world assessment by the career development programs. Career and technical educators found value in using the CRC systems to improve student achievement and link learning to future study and careers. But, The attainment of a CRC appears to be of minimal value to the holder in Oklahoma at this time since very few employers are requiring or recognizing the credential. Is this true, though?

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Section V: Research Projects Projects Underway:  Measuring employers return on investment.  Determining the benefit of CR 101 to OESC clients.  WorkKeys and the EOI’s.  Determining whether WorkKeys can predict success in college courses. Projects Beginning Soon:  Exploring the economic impact of the CRC to the state of Oklahoma.  Determine the benefits of obtaining a CRC to an individual.

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee Questions Comments Suggestions for Future Research

Oklahoma’s CRC Research Committee For more information please contact: Chad Mullen: Labor Market Analyst Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (405) or Visit: ACT’s CRC web site: Oklahoma CareerTech’s CRC web site: