Michigan National Career Readiness Certificate (MI NCRC) Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth

What is the MI NCRC? A worker jobs skills assessment Created by ACT Verifies real world core job skills to employers: Applied Math Applied Math Locating Information Locating Information Reading for information Reading for information Based on over 16,000 “job profiles” A nationally recognized credential Employability skills training

Michigan Brand MI NCRC

Certificate Levels Platinum Level Platinum Level signifies an individual has scored at least a Level 6 in each of the three core areas Gold Level Gold Level signifies an individual has scored at least a Level 5 in each of the three core areas Silver Level Silver Level signifies an individual has scored at a Level 4 in each of the three core areas Bronze Level Bronze Level signifies an individual has scored at a Level 3 in each of the three core areas

What Do the Levels Mean? Based on scores in each of the three core areas: Platinum Level signifies an individual possesses core skills for approximately 99% of jobs profiled by WorkKeys® Platinum Level signifies an individual possesses core skills for approximately 99% of jobs profiled by WorkKeys® Gold Level signifies an individual possesses core skills for approximately 90% of jobs profiled by WorkKeys® Gold Level signifies an individual possesses core skills for approximately 90% of jobs profiled by WorkKeys® Silver Level signifies an individual possesses core skills for approximately 65% of jobs profiled by WorkKeys® Silver Level signifies an individual possesses core skills for approximately 65% of jobs profiled by WorkKeys® Bronze Level signifies an individual possesses core skills for approximately 30% of jobs profiled by WorkKeys® Bronze Level signifies an individual possesses core skills for approximately 30% of jobs profiled by WorkKeys®

Level 5 WorkKeys® Applied Math Skills Problems require several steps of logic and calculation (e.g., problem may involve completing an order form by totaling the order and then computing tax). Decide what information, calculations, or unit conversions to use to solve the problem. Look up a formula and perform single-step conversions within or between systems of measurement. Calculate using mixed units (e.g., 3.5 hours and 4 hours 30 minutes). Divide negative numbers. Find the best deal using one- and two-step calculations and then comparing results. Calculate perimeters and areas of basic shapes (rectangles and circles). Calculate percent discounts.

Level Score Vs. Scale Score Level Scores 3-7 For public consumption For public consumption Scale Scores 70’s-90’s Not for public consumption Not for public consumption

Employability Skills Training AKA “soft” or “interpersonal skills” 12 State skills standards MWAs must offer Employability skills certificate

What the MI NCRC is Not? A mandate for the learning disabled A low level learners assessment A replacement for academic/postsecondary assessments & credentials

MI NCRC Vs. WorkKeys® MI NCRC Vs. WorkKeys® Communication Business Writing Business Writing Listening Listening Reading for Information Writing Writing Problem Solving Applied Technology Applied Technology Applied Mathematics Locating Information Observation Observation Interpersonal Teamwork Teamwork

Where Did the MI NCRC Come From? Michigan Council for Labor and Economic Growth recommendation National Career Readiness Certificates not new to Michigan Michigan’s state-wide adoption is new MI NCRC included in Michigan Merit Exam given to all high school juniors Over 70,000 certificates issued in Michigan

Goals Over the next four years, 560,000 residents with MI NCRCs 380,000 Michigan High Schools 380,000 Michigan High Schools +180,000 Workforce Development System +180,000 Workforce Development System 560,000 MI NCRCs issued by ,000 MI NCRCs issued by 2013

Value of a MI NCRC Better Prepared Workforce Matches Skills & Jobs Reduces Turnover Rates Way to Quantify Skills of Workforce Nationally Recognized Credential

Employers Say… “In our mission to hire, train, develop, retain, and support life-long learning of diverse qualified associates, the National Career Readiness Certificate, and the related WorkKeys® assessments will continue to be an absolute resource in recruiting the right candidates to be successful through the career ladder at CVS/CVS Pharmacy/CVS Caremark.” - Lena Barkley, Manager, Workforce Initiatives, CVS/CVS Pharmacy/CVS Caremark

Employers Say… “The National Career Readiness Certificate, consisting of the related WorkKeys® assessments and learning systems, have been invaluable in helping us to hire and retain world- class employees, with the foundational job skills needed to be successful at Dow. We have proven correlations between high scores in WorkKeys® and employees’ ability to quickly learn on the job technical skills.” - Jennifer Hayes, Michigan Operations Project Leader, Dow Chemical Company

Emerging Workforce (K-12 and Colleges) Transitional Workforce (MWAs and Agencies) Incumbent Workforce Employers DemandSupply

Target Populations & Assessment Michigan Works! Agencies required to use three MI NCRC assessments for program participant (NWLB) jobs skills assessments. MWAs encouraged to provide MI NCRC assessments to general public as resources allow. DELEG/BWT will reevaluate target population prior to PY A MRS counselor will determine appropriateness of MI NCRC for customers on case-by-case basis. MI NCRC assessments high-stakes testing (controlled environment, proctored, and timed).

Remediation Pre-assessments based on MWA case management discretion Less than Bronze level activates MWA locally-designed remediation Examples of remediation tools used to improve assessment scores: WorkKeys® Readiness Assessment (paper/pencil) WorkKeys® Readiness Assessment (paper/pencil) KeyTrain™ assessments KeyTrain™ assessments Worldwide Interactive Network (WIN) Career Readiness Courseware Worldwide Interactive Network (WIN) Career Readiness Courseware PLATO® Learning online assessments PLATO® Learning online assessments

Testing Sites MWA Service Centers With justification: Existing or new partner agencies Existing or new partner agencies K-12 school districts K-12 school districts Community colleges Community colleges Other community-based organizations Other community-based organizationsAccommodation/Access: Accessibility for people with disabilities Accessibility for people with disabilities Public transit routes Public transit routes Commuting patterns for jobs Commuting patterns for jobs Conventional wisdom in the region regarding acceptable travel distance for services Conventional wisdom in the region regarding acceptable travel distance for services Proximity of ancillary services Proximity of ancillary services Parking Parking

Employer Engagement & Outreach MWAs required to have outreach plan. DELEG/BWT has developed outreach materials including the Fact Sheet, Employer Brochure, and Frequently Asked Questions. DELEG/BWT will conduct employer engagement and outreach.

The Michigan NCRC Advocates Board Chair – Cindy Leyrer Vice-Chair – Dennis Dunlap Secretary – Liz Stegman Executive Director – Rachael Jungblut Member – Bill Guest Member – Ron Koehler Member – Howard Hipes Member – Irma Zuckerberg Member – Michelle Mueller SW IT Chair – Debbie Gillespie SE IT Chair – Ann Stanton WM IT Chair – Liz Stegman MM IT Chair – Kathy Conklin NM IT Chair – Dennis Dunlap UP IT Chair – TBD

MI NCRC Involvement and Stakeholders Michigan currently ranks 2 nd in the United States in terms of MI NCRCs issued

Data and Reporting One-Stop Management Information System (OSMIS) Funding Streams: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Wagner-Peyser Wagner-Peyser Jobs, Education, and Training (JET) participants Jobs, Education, and Training (JET) participants MWAs required entry in “Assessment/Testing” section of Individual Service Strategy (ISS) section of OSMIS for funding streams Level scores: Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information Level scores: Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information Employability Skills Training Employability Skills Training

Data and Reporting (cont…) Minimum requirements per funding stream for ISS section entry of the OSMIS: Wagner-Peyser funding stream individual must be a Wagner-Peyser participant. WIA funding stream pre-registration must be completed. (Will result in the individual being counted as a Wagner-Peyser participant) TAA funding stream registration must be completed. (Will result in creation of a WIA pre- registration and the individual counted as a Wagner-Peyser participant) JET funding stream individual must attend a general orientation. “Pre-Service” or “Post-Service” MWA data entry will trigger OSMIS determination of certificate earned (Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze MI NCRC). Earned certificates (Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze) continue to be displayed unless the participant’s ISS record is deleted.

ISS Pre-Test Screen

Post Test Gold MI NCRC

Employability Skills Data and Reporting Two new ISS/OSMIS indicators: “Employability Skills Training Given?” “Employability Skills Training Given?” “Employability Skills Training Completed?” “Employability Skills Training Completed?” “Yes” for both questions = OSMIS generated message: “Participant qualifies to receive an Employability Skills Endorsement” “Participant qualifies to receive an Employability Skills Endorsement”

ISS Employability Skills

Quarterly Reports In addition to MIS, there will be quarterly reports due to DELEG/BWT. Reports based on information regarding the MWAs progress and experiences administering the WorkKeys assessments and implementing the MI-NCRC. MWAs are to include details such as job seeker testimonials, employer testimonials, anecdotes, promising practices, effective local implementation strategies, etc. Problems and/or recurring concerns that an MWA has experienced in implementing the directives of this policy issuance may also be included in these reports.

Service Levels MI NCRCs do not meet the “certificate” definition under Common Measures. MI NCRC may be recognized as a “credential” under the WIA statutory measures if approved and recognized as a valid credential by local Workforce Development Board and provided in addition to another allowable WIA service. For Wagner-Peyser participants, WorkKeys® assessments are classified as a mediated service. For WIA participants, the three core WorkKeys® assessments are classified as a core service. For TAA participants, the WorkKeys® assessments are classified as skills assessments.

For More Information

Questions?

Contact Information Keenan Wade, Manager Business & Industry Training Section Meeting Employer Needs Division (MEND) DELEG-BWT 201 N. Washington Square, 3rd Floor Lansing, Michigan (517)

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