Ann Stanton Co-Chair MINCRC Advocates

The Current Situation  The American workforce pipeline consists of high school, college, university, other adult training program graduates, the unemployed and incarcerated, returning retirees, and the currently employed. Today, our workforce pipeline is challenged.  The mismatch between the skills required for most jobs and the skills of the U.S. workforce is having a significant impact on productivity and revenue across all businesses and industries. Employers need reliable ways to measure foundational skills to ensure they are hiring the most qualified, trainable candidates.  To help overcome these challenges, we need a workforce with the foundational skills to succeed and a common language for educators and employers to measure skills.

Our Challenges in Education  Ready for College / Ready for Work High School Graduates Need Similar Math, Reading Skills Whether Entering College or Workforce Training Programs May 8, 2006 IOWA CITY, Iowa—High school students who plan to enter workforce training programs after they graduate need academic skills similar to those needed by students planning to enter college, according to a new study conducted by ACT. The findings suggest that the math and reading skills needed to be ready for success in workforce training programs are comparable to those needed for success in the first year of college.  Based on these results, ACT recommends that all high school students should experience a common academic program, one that prepares them for both college and workforce training, regardless of their post-graduation plans.  "We can't afford to have one expectation for students who plan to attend college and another for those who plan to enter the workforce or workforce training programs after high school," said ACT CEO Richard L. Ferguson. "If we educate some students to a lesser standard than others, we narrow their options to jobs that, in today's economy, no longer pay well enough to support a family."

Our Challenges in Economic Development  One step at a time….  From: Google Alerts Sent: Sunday, November 08, :39 AM To: Stanton, Ann Subject: Google Alert - "national career readiness certificate" Google News Alert for: "national career readiness certificate"  Company to have job fair in St. Clair Port Huron Times Herald - Port Huron,MI,USA... should have a solid job history, should be able to pass physical and drug tests and be willing to obtain a National Career Readiness Certificate.... Company to have job fair in St. Clair Company to have job fair in St. Clair  This once a day Google Alert is brought to you by Google. Remove this alert. Create another alert. Manage your alerts. Remove Create ManageRemove Create Manage

Company to have job fair in St. Clair ST. CLAIR — Energy Components Group will have a job fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Pine Shores Golf Course, 515 Fred W. Moore Highway. People with last names starting with A to M are asked to attend Tuesday. People with last names starting with N to Z are asked to attend Thursday. The company is opening a plant in the city to service clients in the wind and solar industries. Between 35 and 40 people will be hired for the first phase of operations. Positions will include skilled operators, skilled craftsmen, clerical workers, laborers, technical and sales. People attending the job fair are asked to bring a résumé, must have a high school diploma or GED, should have a solid job history, should be able to pass physical and drug tests and be willing to obtain a National Career Readiness Certificate. Applications will be accepted at the job fair only. The job fair is being coordinated in conjunction with the city of St. Clair, Michigan Works and the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County Times Herald November 7, 2009

Our Challenges in Higher Ed  How do we get educators to recognize the value of workforce readiness in academics?  How do we identify foundational skills that are built into curriculum?  How do we align programs to jobs?  How do we better prepare students?

What’s Your Challenge??

WorkKeys – What is it? ► WorkKeys is:  Nine separate skills: Applied Mathematics Applied Technology Business Writing Listening Locating Information Observation Reading for Information Teamwork Writing

So…What is the NCRC?  The National Career Readiness Certificate is:  Powered by WorkKeys  Based on three skills—Applied Mathematics, Locating Information and Reading for Information because…  These three skills are the most prevalent in the Occupational Profile Database

Occupational Profiles

Certificate Levels

National Career Readiness Certificate Levels & Employability Core employability skills for approximately 30% of jobs Core employability skills for approximately 65% of jobs Core employability skills for approximately 85-90% of jobs Core employability skills for approximately 99% of jobs

Michigan Gold Certificates: Silver Certificates: Bronze Certificates: Total Certificates: 81240

√ Quick Check True or False? An individual has taken three WorkKeys assessments; Applied Mathematics, Locating Information and Reading for Information. These three tests have resulted in a certificate.

Using The Certificate for Career Planning

How is Macomb Communtity College responding? ► Breaking Through – Jobs For The Future ► Achieving The Dream

How the NCRC impacts College Training Programs

Implications for Apprenticeship Training ReadingMathLocating Bricklayer465 Range 3-7 Range 3-6 Scale Score Scale Score Scale Score Carpenter554 Range 3-7 Range 3-6 Scale Score Scale Score Scale Score Iron Worker 555 Range 3-7 Range 3-6 Scale Score Scale Score Scale Score Millwright555 Range 3-7 Range 3-6 Scale Score Scale Score Scale Score 80-86

Why the National Career Readiness Certificate? ► Benefits of the National Career Readiness Certificate  The Certificate is an easily understood, conveniently attained, and universally valued workforce credential. Because The Certificate validates that an individual has certain essential skills important across a range of jobs—employers, career seekers, economic developers, and educators can use The Certificate as a common language to improve the quality of the workforce. The skill levels are meaningful to career seekers, educators, and employers. ► Based on objective, standardized results  The WorkKeys® assessments that are the basis for the National Career Readiness Certificate are objective, standardized assessments, administered in secure, monitored testing environments to ensure the validity of test results. WorkKeys® assessmentsWorkKeys® assessments

The National Career Readiness Certificate  Designed to complement other traditional credentials (HS diploma, Technical certifications, CC Degrees/Certificates, College Degrees etc.  Can be used for:  Screening—Employers interview only applicants who have the skills required for the job.  Hiring and promotion—A National Career Readiness Certificate can be used as a "plus" factor to help make selection and promotion decisions.  Targeting employee training and development—Employers can target their training budgets for job-specific skills rather than basic skills.

Why The National Career Readiness Certificate? ► Nationwide portability  WorkKeys is a program recognized by employers and education entities nationwide. WorkKeys assessment results and certificates can help individuals find job opportunities wherever they live. ► An internationally recognized assessment organization  ACT is a not-for-profit organization committed to education and workplace success. ACT is best known for the ACT® test, an entrance exam colleges trust. ACT is equally committed to the National Career Readiness Certificate to solve America's workplace challenges. All of ACT's assessments undergo rigorous development to achieve acceptable levels of reliability and validity. ACT® testACT® test

Our Resources  MI NCRC Advocates   MI NCRC website   ACT   KeyTrain   Partners – K12, Community College, Workforce Dev Boards, State