1. Georgia Work Ready Program Presentation for: Southeastern Work Keys Conference February 2, 2007 Debra Lyons, Director Governor’s Office of Workforce Development

2. Page 2GOWFD - Lyons Governor’s Vision We need a workforce development system that links workforce development and education together and aligns to the economic needs of the state, its regions and local communities” Governor Sonny Perdue February 20, 2006

3. Page 3GOWFD - Lyons State Workforce Board Strategic Goals Develop the Workforce Pipeline Engage At Risk and Out of School Youth Increase Life Long Learning Remove Barriers to Work Align Workforce to Economic Development Increase Public Awareness

4. Page 4GOWFD - Lyons Align Workforce to Economic Development Strategic Initiative Develop and implement statewide work readiness credential

5. Page 5GOWFD - Lyons Georgia Work Readiness Credential Determine what type of knowledge and skills need to be validated to accurately determine work readiness Select tool that can accurately assess these skills by levels Select job and occupation profiling methodology that will accurately determine required skill level for successful employment

6. Page 6GOWFD - Lyons Criteria for Success Must be recognized and used by business community as a part of their hiring process Must be ‘Economic Development’ driven Must be easily accessible to all Georgians at minimum to no cost Must have support system to enable Georgians to advance to higher levels

7. Page 7GOWFD - Lyons Georgia Work Ready Initiative Partnership between the State of Georgia and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce August 23, 2006 - Joint announcement by: Governor Sonny Perdue and George Israel, President, Georgia Chamber of Commerce

8. Page 8GOWFD - Lyons Georgia Work Ready Program Individual Georgia Work Ready Credential –Foundation Skills – Work Ethics Businesses Job Profiling for all companies hiring Economic Development Certified Work Ready Community

9. Page 9GOWFD - Lyons Georgia Work Ready Initiative Vendor awarded contract: January 2, 2007 ACT ▪ACT WorkKeys Georgia Work Ready Assessment tool

10. Page 10GOWFD - Lyons State Workforce Investment Board Strategic Goals Develop the Workforce Pipeline Engage At Risk and Out of School Youth Increase Life Long Learning Remove Barriers to Work Align Workforce to Economic Development Increase Public Awareness

11. Page 11GOWFD - Lyons Statewide Delivery System Technical Colleges will provide assessment and job profiling services ▪Certified Job Profiler at each college ▪Certified Assessment Sites – Jan 30, 2007 ▪Internet based, self guided instructional support ▪Instructional courses for fee Program coordinated by Governor’s Office of WFD in consultation with Georgia Chamber of Commerce

12. Page 12GOWFD - Lyons Estimated Number of Annual Tests Target: 25,000 to 50,000 Annual Georgia Work Ready Assessments Average:735 to 1470 assessments/year/college or 4 to 8 assessments/day/college

13. Page 13GOWFD - Lyons Estimated Number of Annual Job Profiles 33 Job Profilers Two profiles per month profiler 792 profiles per year

14. Page 14GOWFD - Lyons Performance Metrics Statewide data base to track: ▪Number of assessments taken ▪Number of certificates issued and levels ▪Data stored by county ▪Add additional data fields as needed

15. Page 15GOWFD - Lyons Employment, Education Economic Development (E 3 ) C ertified W ork R eady C ommunities ▪Specified percent of county residents successfully attaining assessment ▪Increasing High School Graduation Rate ▪Community commitment

16. Page 16GOWFD - Lyons Certified Work Ready Communities County based criteria ▪3% existing workforce ▪25% available workforce ▪High school graduation rate Minimum Threshold Set percentage increase Based on class size

17. Page 17GOWFD - Lyons C ertified W ork R eady C ommunities County based teams ▪Local leaders – county and municipal ▪Technical College and Adult Education ▪Local School Board(s) ▪Local Workforce Investment Boards ▪Chamber of Commerce ▪GDEcD representative ▪DCA representative ▪Others

18. Page 18GOWFD - Lyons Next Steps: Work Ready Centers at all Technical Colleges ▪January 2007 Full operational Spring 2007 Certified Work Ready Communities ▪90 Day sign up period New website launched ▪www.gaworkready.orgwww.gaworkready.org Making it successful!!