1. Presented by Kellee Forkenbrock, Senior Coordinator
System Test Coordinators’ Workshop
Tuesday, January 28th, 2014
Presented by Kellee Forkenbrock, Senior Coordinator
Good Morning! Before we continue to explore the programs you and your schools will administer this year, let’s take a look at what’s on the horizon for the school year.
I will provide a short preview of what ACT WorkKeys is and how it will be beneficial to your state’s testing program.

2. Summary of the Solution Assessments Overview Levels of Success
Today’s Goals
What Is ACT WorkKeys?
Summary of the Solution
Assessments Overview
Levels of Success
General Information
Testing Event Highlights
Accommodations
Reporting and Scoring (PnP/WKIV)
Resources
Questions & Answers
We’ll begin this short overview with a summary of the ACT WorkKeys solution, which will include an outline of what the ACT WorkKeys system is and a brief description of the assessments and levels of certification.
Next, we’ll cover some general details about next year’s event – including the test event highlights, available accommodations and reporting features that will be available for testing staff.
In conclusion, we’ll take a look at resources and wrap up with a short Q&A session.

3. Complete Job Skills Assessment System
What is ACT WorkKeys? – Summary of the Solution
Complete Job Skills Assessment System
Assessments based on job analysis
Work-Ready Students = Greater Employment Opportunities
Covers range of cognitive skills
ACE: Eligible for college credit
An integral part of ACT’s WorkReady structure, WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system that measures the level of preparedness a student possesses to enter into a high-performance workforce upon graduation. The content of the 12 assessments within WorkKeys are based on extensive job analysis ACT has conducted over the past 20 years. There are schools in the state of Alabama that may have administered the national version of WorkKeys in previous years. The state version of WorkKeys will have an emphasis on certification.
ACT understands that work-ready students are more likely to gain greater employability. In turn, WorkKeys is a tool that helps students determine the skill levels required for various jobs. With an emphasis in 12 skill areas pertinent to work readiness, the battery of assessments within the WorkKeys system cover a myriad of cognitive skills, which are a necessity in our evolving workforce.
Even though the WorkKeys system's emphasis is career readiness, the American Council on Education (ACE) has recommended that three credit hours be awarded to recipients who earn specific levels of the WorkKeys credential. This is a testament to the need of WorkKeys for complete success in both college and career.

4. Reading for Information Applied Mathematics
What is ACT WorkKeys? - Assessments Overview
Locating Information
Reading for Information
Applied Mathematics
The skills your students will be assessed for in 2015 are Locating Information, Reading for Information and Applied Mathematics. Based on ACT’s review of over 5600 job profiles, 77% of jobs require all of these skills for success in the workforce.

5. Focuses on the following skills:
What is ACT WorkKeys? – Assessments Overview
Focuses on the following skills:
Problem solving
Critical thinking
Reading and using work-related text
Applying information from workplace documents to solve problems
Applying mathematical reasoning to work-related problems
Setting up and performing work-related mathematical calculations
Locating, synthesizing, and applying information that is presented graphically
Comparing, summarizing, and analyzing information presented in multiple, related graphics
The three assessments not only measure a student’s career readiness but also takes a closer look at the following focuses…

6. What is ACT WorkKeys? – Levels of Success
Bronze – Earned by 21% of US Examinees
Silver – Earned by 47% of US Examinees
Gold – Earned by 18% of US Examinees
Based on the student’s scores on the three assessments (all of which are scored on a scale of 3 through 7), they may be eligible for a work readiness credential entitled the Career Readiness Certificate (or the CRC). There are four levels of certification:
Bronze – On average, the Bronze level credential is earned by 21% of examinees. To earn this level, the student must have scores of at least a level 3 in each of the three core areas and has the necessary cognitive skills for 16 percent of the jobs in the WorkKeys database
Silver - On average, the Silver level credential is earned by 47% of examinees. To earn this level, the student must have scores of at least a level 4 in each of the three core areas and has the necessary cognitive skills for 67 percent of the jobs in the WorkKeys database
Gold - On average, the Gold level credential is earned by 18% of examinees. To earn this level, the student must have scores of at least a level 5 in each of the three core areas and has the necessary cognitive skills for 93 percent of the jobs in the WorkKeys database
Platinum - On average, the Platinum level credential is earned by 1% of examinees. To earn this level, the student must have scores of at least a level 6 in each of the three core areas and has the necessary cognitive skills for 99 percent of the jobs in the WorkKeys database
Platinum – Earned by 1% of US Examinees

7. All grade 12 students from participating schools
General Information – Testing Event Highlights
All grade 12 students from participating schools
Two Formats: Internet Version or PnP Materials
Similar to standard ACT test administration
Testing Facility Requirements
Barcode Labels
Testing Staff Requirements
Supervisor’s Manuals
Anticipated Key Dates
Establishment: September 2014
Test Administration Training: November 2014
Jan. 1 – Feb. 28, 2015: WKIV Testing Window
Feb. 10, 2015: Paper/Pencil Initial Test Date
Feb. 24, 2015: Paper/Pencil Makeup Test Date
Feb. 10 – 24, 2015: Accoms Testing Window (PnP)
Now that we are familiar with the purpose of WorkKeys, let’s cover some general information about the testing event.
All eligible grade 12 students from across the state will participate. WorkKeys will be available in two formats – Internet based testing or PnP including a 3-in-1 testing booklet.
There are some similarities in standard test administration between the ACT and WorkKeys. Much like the ACT this Spring, WorkKeys must be administered in a room free from distractions and seating arrangements are the same (facing the same direction, shoulder-to-shoulder or head-to-head). WorkKeys will also include barcode labels for PnP students’ answer documents. We encourage that your choose testing staff that can serve for both WorkKeys and The ACT, as the requirements are virtually the same. Additional details regarding WorkKeys test administration will be available in the Supervisor’s Manuals, which will be posted to the State Testing Website.
Some key dates have been preliminarily scheduled for the next testing year. Site establishment for WorkKeys will be in tandem with Spring ACT Testing establishment, which will be in September Although WorkKeys administration will mirror the same rules that apply to the standard administration of The ACT this spring, administrative training specifically for this program will be available in November 2014 in the format of pre-recorded training webinars, live training webcasts and an informative Q&A session.
Students who plan to test via the WorkKeys Internet Version (or WKIV) have an extended testing window to complete the three assessments. Paper and Pencil testing opportunities include an initial test date of Feb. 10, with a makeup test date on Feb Accommodated PnP students have a testing window of Feb Testing must be done on the dates listed above.

8. No ACT Approval Required PnP Accommodations include:
General Information – Accommodations
No ACT Approval Required
PnP Accommodations include:
Reader/DVD
Large Print Testing Materials
Sign Language Interpreter
Braille (limited availability)
Extended Time
WKIV only option: Extended Time
LEP Learners: word-to-word foreign language glossary allowed
Locally Approved Accommodations
Unlike The ACT, WorkKeys does not require ACT approval to administer the tests to students with accommodations. Systems and schools need to be aware of accommodation options available from WorkKeys and ALSDE.
Accommodations available for paper-and-pencil testing include a reader’s script or a recorded reader’s script DVD. If using the DVD, each individual student must have their own DVD with a headset and be able to fast forward and rewind their own DVD as needed. We also have large-print test booklets and large-print answer documents available. A Sign Language Interpreter may be used for spoken instructions only. He or she may sign to small groups as long as they are only signing the verbal instructions. We also have a limited number of braille test forms. Extended time is allowed in both paper-and-pencil testing and Internet Version testing. In fact, extended time is the only accommodated option for WKIV.
Please note that LEP is not considered an ADA accommodation. LEP learners are allowed a word-to-word foreign language glossary, which they must provide. Be sure to check it for any notes or other unauthorized testing aids.
Examples of locally-approved accommodations are wheelchair access or seating at the front of the room.
The main consideration is that the accommodation provided might also be provided to any other student.
All students are eligible and might be assigned to sit in the front row, but some students must be seated in the front row in order to hear properly.
Room supervisors need to know if they need wheelchair seating or if they need to seat someone at the front of the room so that they can make the arrangements needed. The Test Supervisor should make a note on the roster such as “seat at front of room” as a reminder for the room supervisor. Testing an individual student in a separate room is also a locally-approved accommodation.

9. Student Level – ACT WorkKeys Report
General Information – Reporting and Scoring (PnP)
Student Level – ACT WorkKeys Report
Report
Description
Distribution
ACT WorkKeys Memo to Examinee
Printed paper report containing Reportable Scores (Level and Scale scores)
Mailed to High School Principal to distribute to student.
ACT WorkKeys Summary for Examinee
ACT WorkKeys Examinee Roster Report
Mailed to High School Principal
Following PnP test administration, each PR will be mailed three reports:
An ACT WorkKeys Memo for each student, which documents the examinee's skill level for each assessment taken, describes tasks associated with each skill level, and suggests general strategies for improvement. This will be distributed by the PR.
An ACT WorkKeys Summary for each student, which includes the examinee's score, along with a brief description of the achieved skill level for each assessment administered. The format of the report makes it suitable for the examinee to copy and attach to a job application. This will also be distributed by the PR.
An ACT WorkKeys Examinee Roster Report for each PR, which includes assessment scores, demographic data, and job-related data for each examinee.

10. General Information – Reporting and Scoring (PnP)
Here’s an example of the Memo to Examinee.

11. General Information – Reporting and Scoring (WKIV)
For Internet Version Testing, individual score reports for each skill area, as shown here, are provided on the testing system immediately after test administration is complete.

12. General Information – Reporting and Scoring (WKIV)
There are other non-score reports listed for ACT WorkKeys Internet Version, which are for administrative purposes. The Test Supervisor will have access to download all reports via a portal like the one shown in this slide.

13. Alabama State Testing Website Sample Score Reports General FAQs
General Information - Resources
Alabama State Testing Website
Sample Score Reports
General FAQs
As we approach the 2015 WorkKeys testing event, additional details will become available regarding all of the topics covered during the hour. In the meantime, continue to utilize the state testing website for updates on WorkKeys implementation. There is an ACT WorkKeys banner on the state testing website, where this PPT will be stored after the conference.
If you’d like to see additional examples of WorkKeys score reports or are seeking general information about WorkKeys, please see the other two links listed above.

14. General Information – Questions and Answers
This concludes our preview of the WorkKeys assessment system. We’ll begin taking questions at this time.