Missouri was one of 4 states accepted by ACT in 2012 to participate in this initiative. We are now 1 of 24 states engaged

What is Work Ready Communities (WRC)?

This initiative starts at the grassroots level, by providing a community-based framework that:

•Links workforce development to education

•Aligns with the economic development needs of communities, regions and states

•Matches individuals to jobs based on skill levels

•Helps attract new businesses to the region

Certified Work Ready Communities Overview

• National effort-led by ACT Workforce Division

• State driven—Governor Nixon very engaged

• States will use the NCRC (National Career Readiness Certificate) to skill up workforce

• Employers will partner to help build talent pipeline and drive growth

• Educators can help prepare their students for work readiness

• Local counties & economic developers will have verifiable data to validate the quality of their workforce

National Initiative—24 states

http://www.workreadycommunities.org/MO, as of 10/26/15

Missouri Snapshot - Over 63,000 NCRC’s statewide64 counties now participating

Over 2600 employers recognizing!

What is a National Career Readiness Certificate - NCRC

Establishes a common framework that links, aligns

and matches individual skills to careers.

MEASURES

COGNITIVE SKILLS

Applied Mathematics = Using math to solve work problems

Reading for Information = Understanding work-related text

Locating Information = Finding/applying graphical information

National Career Readiness Certificate - NCRC

To earn an ACT NCRC, an examinee must

successfully complete three ACT WorkKeys

assessments:

Applied Mathematics

Locating Information

Reading for Information

NCRC and Work Readiness Levels

Platinum: Scores of Level 6 or higher on all three examsGold: Scores of Level 5 or higher on all three examsSilver: Scores of Level 4 or higher on all three examsBronze: Scores of Level 3 or higher on all three exams

What Could this Mean for Your School District?

• MSIP5 Performance Standard 3: College and Career Readiness.

ACT WorkKeys was added to approved assessments for the 2014-2015 school year and applied to the 2015-2016 APR

• Flexible Implementation Options

• Nationally Recognized Credential

DESE Approved DESE now recognizes the WorkKeys® assessment as part of MSIP 5 and it is included as another option to earn points for your school district’s performance report.

Why should you test your students?

Educators can help close the skills gap, via tools integrated into career pathways with stackable industry-recognized credentials

Students understand what skills are required by employers - and how to prepare themselves for success

What’s in it for Educators?

• Education plays a crucial role in helping a region close skill gaps that prevent people from getting a job, & puts existing jobs at risk.

• Education helps create competitive advantage for individuals through increased skills

• The NCRC validates these foundational skills & helps prepare for workforce. For some students, it can mean the difference in graduating & dropping out.

• K12 public education can utilize the NCRC to demonstrate work readiness for graduates

• A gold level satisfies HS graduation requirements for reading & math

• Students who don’t plan to further their education have a credential they can use with their resume, to make them more desirable to prospective employers

Standard 3: College and Career Readiness Assessment Scores Matrix

Implementation

• On Site Testing

• Completed in approximately 4 hours

• Paper/Pencil Version for large groups

• Score report results approx. 2 weeks

• Certificates approx. 3-5 weeks

• Typical Schedule:

• Registration-40 minutes

• Test 1-45 minutes; break 10 minutes

• Test2-45 minutes; break 10 minutes

• Test 3- 45 minutes; break 10 minutes

Cost of Testing

Three Options:1.) State Contract-FREE

Students must be 18 years of age

Students must register in jobs.mo.gov

Can test free of charge at Mo Career Center, or work with Mo Job Center for testing realm & proctoring assistance (on-site)

2.) Grant Options

Counties who are participating in CWRC can apply for funding—ded.mo.gov/cwrcfunding

These funds can help cover costs for students under age 18

Interested in Learning More?

Contact : Cheri Tune, Certified Work Ready Communities Director573-291-5686 cheri.tune@ded.mo.govWorkreadycommunities.org