Coming to Michigan: The National Career Readiness Certificate NCRC bridging classrooms and careers

To regain our economy and prosperity, Michigan employers, schools, and families are working together with their communities to create the jobs and employees of the future

The Changing Needs of Michigan’s Workplace Mean a Need for Higher Skills and Lifelong Learning Our state needs jobs with bright futures to support our families Our state needs jobs with bright futures to support our families To draw those kinds of jobs, we need a workforce with good skills, well prepared for lifelong learning To draw those kinds of jobs, we need a workforce with good skills, well prepared for lifelong learning

To prepare all students for success in the new global economy, our superintendents and principals have launched a new initiative on behalf of students…

The National Career Readiness Certificate is Based on Three Skill Areas employers say are most needed: Applied Mathematics Applied Mathematics Reading for Information Reading for Information Locating Information Locating Information

The National Career Readiness Certificate is intended to complement the high school diploma and other employment credentials

What is the National Career Readiness Certificate? Developed by ACT™ Same company which created the well known college entrance exam Same company which created the well known college entrance exam Research shows that readiness for college and readiness for work require the same levels of preparation Research shows that readiness for college and readiness for work require the same levels of preparation

What is the National Career Readiness Certificate? Portable credential that documents and certifies an individual’s ability to learn and perform occupational skills Portable credential that documents and certifies an individual’s ability to learn and perform occupational skills An additional resource for employers to make employment and training decisions An additional resource for employers to make employment and training decisions A valuable complement to an individual’s portfolio of traditional credentials A valuable complement to an individual’s portfolio of traditional credentials A common language among stakeholders to address our current skill gap circumstances A common language among stakeholders to address our current skill gap circumstances

Job Specific Skills Occupational Skills WorkKeys Foundational Skills AppliedMathematics Reading for Information Locating Information Occupational and Employability Skills

What’s in it for Employers? Nationally recognizedNationally recognized Aligned to occupational job duties and tasksAligned to occupational job duties and tasks Predictor of successPredictor of success –Reduced turnover –Reduced training and development costs

Reduced pre-employment assessments costs and timeReduced pre-employment assessments costs and time Inexpensive—Already part of Michigan Merit Exam (Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information)Inexpensive—Already part of Michigan Merit Exam (Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information) Proof of ReadinessProof of Readiness What’s in it for Employers?, cont’d

What’s in it for students and job seekers? Nationally recognized and portable—can use it across the state or the country with many different types of employers Nationally recognized and portable—can use it across the state or the country with many different types of employers Demonstrates the ability to apply what you know to job specific skills Demonstrates the ability to apply what you know to job specific skills Allows entrance into higher wage careers while advancing skills and education Allows entrance into higher wage careers while advancing skills and education

Pay by Combined NCRC Scores Pay , , ,68924,16029,57634,97343,39449,69149,08252,461 Combined NCRC Scores With Profile Count $ Bronze Silver Gold

Those Skills in Life Applied Mathematics <3 Maintain Checkbook Register Postsecondary Ready Taxes, Mortgage, Insurance, and Credit Card decisions Make Change Brickmason Apprenticeship 25% of living wage jobs require a 4 year degree 65% require a 2 year degree or occupational training

Those Skills at Work Applied Mathematics <3 Engineers, Scientists Auditors, Technicians Managers, Loan Officers Actors, Clerks School Counselors, Drivers Judges, Social Workers

Certify Readiness Levels Healthcare Examples AM LI RFI Median Pay Registered Nurses545$53,640 Licensed Practical Nurses54534,650 Nursing Aides34421,220 Radiologic Technologists34544,730 Emergency Medical Techs45525,630 Pharmacy Technicians44524,160

What’s in it for Educators? Uses a common set of skills that can be taught and developed Uses a common set of skills that can be taught and developed ALREADY part of the Michigan Merit Exam—NOT one more thing ALREADY part of the Michigan Merit Exam—NOT one more thing

What’s in it for Educators?, cont’d “New hires need more math!” “How much more?” The Employer SAYS... The Educator’s RESPONSE...

“We need better reading skills.” What’s in it for Educators?, cont’d “How much better?” The Employer SAYS... The Educator’s RESPONSE...

What’s in it for Educators?, cont’d We all know these can be endless discussions. This communication problem extends throughout the entire Workforce Development System.

How does it Work? All 3’s All 5’s All 4’s Bronze Silver Gold Reading for Information LocatingInformationAppliedMathematics Or above

T H E S O L U T I O N TM Certificates & Seals

Back of Certificate APPLIED MATHEMATICS Skills for Level 3 Solve problems that require a single type of mathematics operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) using whole numbers Add or subtract negative numbers Change numbers from one form to another using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or percentages Convert simple money and time units (e.g., hours to minutes)

APPLIED MATHEMATICS Skills for Level 3 Sample Question: In your job as a cashier, a customer gives you a $20 bill to pay for a can of coffee that costs $3.84. How much change should you give back?

Back of Certificate LOCATING INFORMATION Skills for Level 4 Find several pieces of information in one or two graphics Understand how graphics are related to each other Summarize information from one or two straightforward graphics Identify trends shown in one or two straightforward graphics Compare information and trends shown in one or two straightforward graphics

LOCATING INFORMATION Skills for Level 4 Sample Question: You must sort clothes in a dry cleaning establishment according to the customer’s instructions. According to the form shown, how should this customer’s shirt be treated?

Back of Certificate READING FOR INFORMATION Skills for Level 5 Figure out the correct meaning of a word based on how the word is used Identify the correct meaning of an acronym that is defined in the document Identify the paraphrased definition of a technical term or jargon that is defined in the document

Back of Certificate READING FOR INFORMATION, cont’d Skills for Level 5 Apply technical terms and jargon and relate them to stated situations Apply straightforward instructions to a new situation that is similar to the one described in the material Apply complex instructions that include conditionals to situations described in the materials

READING FOR INFORMATION Skills for Level 5 Sample Question: Goldberg’s Auto Parts is served by more than fifty different accounts, each with its own sales representative, company name, corporate address, and shipping address. As a shipping and receiving clerk at Goldberg’s, you are required to return defective merchandise to the manufacturer. Standard procedure for returning an item begins with your written request to the company for authorization. Always send the request to the corporate address, not to the shipping address. Unless the company file folder contains a form for this procedure, write a business letter to the manufacturer supplying the item’s stock number, cost, and invoice number; the date it was received; and the reason for its return. The manufacturer’s reply will include an authorization number from the sales representative, a sticker for you to place on the outside of the box to identify it as an authorized return, and a closing date for the company’s acceptance of the returned item. If you do not attach the provided sticker, your returned box will be refused by the manufacturer as unauthorized, and you will need to obtain a new letter, authorization, sticker, and closing date. Always send a returned box to the shipping address, not to the company’s corporate address. According to the policy shown, what should you do if you lose an authorization sticker?

Focus on WorkKeys System (Significant benefit to employer and employer’s workforce performance with commensurate cost) Focus Shifting to WorkKeys System (Major benefit to employer with modest costs) Focus on Credential (Low cost to employer, no out-of-pocket expense. Significant benefit to community and substantial benefit to employer) Employer Adoption Use Model Job Total WorkKeys system implementation Selection using certificate levels and assessment results ACT National Career Readiness Certificate Training/Employee development

Call to Action Explain benefits to students, job seekers, employers, and community members Explain benefits to students, job seekers, employers, and community members Talk to employers, educators, and other community members Talk to employers, educators, and other community members Sign Letter of Commitment—ask others to sign it too! Sign Letter of Commitment—ask others to sign it too!

Employer’s Call to Action Ask ALL job applicants for his/her NCRC... Recognize the NCRC in hiring, promoting, and developing employees... Give Michigancrc permission to use your name in public awareness efforts to promote the NCRC...

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“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” –Henry Ford “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead –Margaret Mead