AGENDA

1. AGENDA • Snapshot of ACT • WorkKeys Review • National Career Readiness Certificate • Partners

2. Snapshot of ACT • Independent, not-for-profit corporation • Founded in 1959 in Iowa City IA • Recognized worldwide as expert in educational measurement, research

3. Snapshot of ACT • Recognized for college readiness solutions, e.g., the ACT assessment • Pursuing our institutional mission: “Helping individuals achieve education and workplace success” • ACT solutions for the workforce • WorkKeys Skill Assessment tools • National Career Readiness Certificate • Professional Certification • Data and research

4. “THE WORKKEYS SYSTEM”

5. Communication Business Writing Listening Reading for Information Writing Personal Skills Performance Talent Fit Problem Solving Applied Mathematics Applied Technology Locating Information Observation Interpersonal Skills Teamwork The Most Comprehensive Assessment of Workplace Skills

6. The Three Components of the System • Job Analysis • What skills and skill levels are needed in today’s jobs/occupations? • Assessment / WorkKeys™What work skills and skill levels does the individual currently have? • Training/ Curriculum • How can skill gaps be addressed in training programs?

7. Job Analysis • Job Profiling • Customized Job Task and Skill Levels • SkillMapTM • Online service linked to O*NET Tasks • Job/skill specific • WorkKeys EstimatorTM • Fast Efficient Process • Uses Occ Profiles and O*NET Titles The process of Job Analysis “sets the bar” and gives youconcrete informationabout theskills requiredin each of your positions.

8. The Assessments • Assessments include: • Reading for Information • Applied Math • Applied Technology • Locating Information • Business Writing • Writing • Listening • Observation • Teamwork • Personal Skills: • Performance • Talent • Fit Testing gives youreliable informationabout your applicants’ and employees’ skills andhow they compareto skill levels required for jobs.

9. Training • Content • Designed to fill gaps identified during WorkKeys assessment • Target training dollars effectively • WIN • KeyTrain Gap analysis shows how the applicant or employeeperformedrelative to the “bar.” Training is available toclose any gap.

10. NATIONAL CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATE “NCRC”

11. The power of an idea “In the 1950s, ACT created a nationally recognized, standardized resource for college entrance. Now, we’re doing the same thing for the workforce.” Richard L. Ferguson CEO and chairman of ACT, Inc.

12. WHY THE NCRC Announced September 2006 Growth of WorkKeys Assessments Growth of Business use Growth of State Programs Need for a Nationally Portable Work Related Credential

13. NCRC • A WorkKeys Powered Credential • Registered by ACT • May Be Authenticated On Line • A Nationally Portable Standard

14. NCRC Principles • Based on 3 WorkKeys Foundational Assessments • Applied Mathematics • Reading For Information • Locating Information • 4 Skill levels • Bronze • Silver • Gold • Platinum

15. NCRC Principles • Performance standards • All 3’s or Above • All 4’s or Above • All 5’s or Above • All 6’s or Above • Scores not printed on certificate. • No additional endorsements or training listed on the Certificate • Tests administered under a proctored secure environment

16. NCRC Reading for Information Applied Mathematics Locating Information 85% of ALL profiled occupations utilize these skills

17. GROWTH OF STATEPROGRAMS CRC’S In the early 2000s 3 Programs Kentucky Jan 2003 Louisiana Feb 2003 Virginia Oct 2004

18. GROWTH OF STATE CRC PROGRAMS 2005-2007 14 More Programs Tennessee Oct 2005 North Carolina Oct 2005 Indiana Oct 2005 Oklahoma Jan 2006 West Virginia Jan 2006 New Mexico July 2006 Alabama Aug 2006 Georgia Aug 2006 NCRC Sept 2006 Florida Apr 2007 Michigan May 2007 South Carolina July 2007 Kansas July 2007 Ohio Sept 2007 Missouri Oct 2007

19. GROWTH OF STATE CRC PROGRAMS 2008 10 More Programs Arkansas Jan 2008 Alaska April 2008 Connecticut April 2008 Oregon May 2008 Wyoming May 2008 Iowa June 2008 Colorado June 2008 Mississippi August 2008 Connecticut Summer 08 Pilot Vermont Summer 08 Pilot

20. Whos talking about CRC/ NCRC programs 2009 More Programs Wisconsin Aug 09 Penn Aug 09 N Dakota Legislation Passed S Dakota Legislation Passed Montana Ongoing Pilot New Hampshire Fall 09 Decision

21. TM

22. TM

23. Certificate Levels Core employability skills for approximately 35% of jobs Core employability skills for approximately 65% of jobs

24. Certificate Levels Core employability skills for approximately 90% of jobs Core employability skills for approximately 99% of jobs

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27. The National Career Readiness System Promoting a common language for employers, individuals, educators Providing a system of standardized measurements for comparing workplace skills Integrating workforce initiatives at the state, regional, national levels Connecting hiring needs of employers with skilled individuals seeking careers

28. Shared Benefits Employers get meaningful evidence of skills that lead to performance Educators receive clear picture of employer expectations on skills Individuals gain rewards for achieving precise levels of skills that lead to jobs

29. Individual Benefits Distinguish Individual as a qualified applicant Identify individual skill gaps and train to close those gaps Rank above other job applicants or incumbents for job placement or promotion 10-Nov-06

30. Employer Benefits • Identifies key job skill requirements • Identify pool of skilled job applicants • Matches Employee Skills with Job Requirements • Align Training for Incumbent Worker to specific job skill requirements • Communicate effectively with Educators • Improves Employee Retention and Performance

31. Educator Benefits • Focus Training Curricula on identified skill gaps • Allows Educators to demonstrate student progress • Linking academic achievement to career planning and job opportunities • Offers a common language with Employers • Increase Student employability

32. State Alignment • Work Ready Communities

33. GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGH SCHOOLS POST-SECONDARY ADULT LEARNING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HUMAN SERVICES CORRECTIONS OTHER EMPLOYER DEMAND POLICY FOUNDATION 33

34. Alignment HUMAN SERVICES ADULT LEARNING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORRECTIONS OTHER POST-SECONDARY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HIGH SCHOOLS GOVERNOR’S OFFICE EMPLOYER DEMAND POLICY FOUNDATION 34

35. Partners • Examples

36. PARTNERS • NAM National Association of Manufactures • NCCER National Center for Construction and Education Research • CAEL Council for Adult and Experiential Learning

37. Partners Provide • Career Pathways • Clear defined pathways or ladders within a given career choice • Industry Sector Strategy • Clear defined access to a career pathway within the given industry of choice

39. Partners

42. NCCER • National Center for Construction and Education Research • NCRC will be a base or foundational requirement for entry into the NCCER apprenticeship programs • Soft Skills may be added to further inform a sponsoring employer as to the candidate they are training

43. CAEL • Council for Adult and Experiential Learning • Uses the NCRC as a basis for foundational skills to further augment traditional life learning skills • Promotes the NCRC as a basis for further educational direction

44. NCRC - Construction

45. Higher Skills = Higher Pay Source: O*NET

46. WorkKeys Help • Help Desk 1-800-WorkKeys 800-867-5539 • ACT WebSite www.act.org • NCRC www.NationalCareerReadiness.com • NCRC www.myworkkeys.com

47. Scott C Stimart • Vice President ACT WorkForce Division • 319-400-8890 • Scott.Stimart@act.org