1. New York State Education Department P-12: Office of Special Education
New York State Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential
New York State Education Department
P-12: Office of Special Education
October 2013
MODULE 6: Option 2: National Work Readiness Credentials 1

2. Topics Topics Review of Options 1 and 2
New York Comprehensive Center Research
Nationally Recognized Work Readiness Credential: Common Elements
Review of each nationally recognized credential
Skills Assessed
Reading and Math Levels
Curriculum/Training Materials
Test Administration
Costs
Unique Features
Vendor
Considerations
Selection of National Credential and Options 1 and 2
Resources
*The information provided on the nationally recognized work readiness credentials is based on our review of the credentials. For official information, contact the vendor.

3. ** May not offer Option 2 as only means to earn CDOS Commencement Credential.
s credentials
Option 1
Complete a Career Plan
Demonstrate achievement of the commencement level CDOS learning standards
Successfully completes 216 hours of participation in
CTE coursework and/or work-based learning experiences
at least 54 hours must be in work-based learning experiences
Has a completed Employability Profile
Option 2**
Meets the requirements for one of the nationally recognized work readiness credentials, including but not limited to:
National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC);
National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC): WorkKeys;
SkillsUSA Work Force Ready Employability Assessment; and
Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Workforce Skills Certification System (WSCS)

4. New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC) Research
Literature Review
Interviews
Districts and BOCES personnel
Institutes of Higher Education
New York State Trade and Industry Advisories
Other States
National Credential Vendors

5. Common Elements Each of the 4 National Work Readiness Credentials:
Signal readiness for entry-level employment;
Developed in collaboration with business and industry experts and educators;
Measure slightly different skills;
Provide common language for describing basic job skills;
Require students to pass assessments;
Allows accommodations for individuals with disabilities;
Meets industry standards for validity and reliability; and
Has associated costs.

6. National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC)
Skills Assessed
Listening, reading with understanding, using math to solve problems, cooperating with others, resolving conflict and negotiating, taking responsibility for learning and critical observation
Reading and Math Levels
Reading: 7th - 8th grade
Math: 7th - 8th grade
Curriculum/Training Materials
Guide for Trainers and Instructors
Work Readiness Credential Candidate Handbook
Sample tests

7. National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC)
Test Administration
Web-based
Wide range of sites
4 modules completed within one year
Pass/Needs More Skill Development
Multiple choice
Costs
Approximately $75.00 for all 4 assessments
$18.00 test retake fee for each assessment
Unique Features
Lead agency: New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL)
Assessment Vendor
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Steck-Vaughn

8. Reading and Math Levels
Skills Assessed
Skill Connect™ Assessments
Technical skills and knowledge in more than 44 trade, industrial and technical areas
47 different assessments  
Workforce Ready System®
General employability skills assessment
Reading and Math Levels
Reading - 8th grade
Math - grades 6th through 8th (depending on specific career assessment).
Curriculum/Training Materials
Blueprint of Competencies for each career area
Professional Development Program
CareerSafe®

9. Vendor Test Administration On-line assessment
May be administered at school
Must be proctored
No time limit
Costs
Non SkillsUSA members: $20.00 per assessment
Member schools: $10.00 discount per student
SkillsUSA/Print-Ed: $10.00 per assessment
Unique Features
Assesses career specific and general employability skills
Demonstration questions
NYS registered CTE programs
 Vendor
SkillsUSA

10. National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
Skills Assessed
NCRC - WorkKeys
Reading for Information
Applied Mathematics
Locating Information
NCRC Plus
Soft Skills
Reading and Math Levels
Reading: 8th grade through high school
Math: 5th grade through high school
Curriculum/Training Materials
KeyTrain
Career Ready 101
KeyTrain CAREER SKILLS

11. National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
Test Administration
Licensed test sites only: schools may be licensed
Costs
3 assessments: each costs $5.50 per person
Certificate cost: additional $5.50 per person
Licensed Test Site: $100 Membership
Unique Features
Results include four levels of performance (bronze, silver gold and platinum)
Levels equate to qualifications for specific jobs
Vendor
ACT, Inc.

12. Workforce Skills Certification System (WSCS)
Skills Assessed
Applied mathematics and reading
Critical thinking and problem solving
Work place behaviors
Reading and Math Levels
CASAS Competencies and CASAS Content Standards
Relevant across full range of instructional levels: beginning literacy through high school
Curriculum/Training Materials
No single curriculum
Database (QuickSearch) of over 2,300 commercially-available print, audio, visual, and computer-based instructional materials

13. Test Administration
Computer delivered
Multiple choice, written responses and video simulations
Administered at local, regional or state levels
Costs
Approximately $45 per candidate
Vary by number and type of tests
Additional start-up and software costs
Unique Features
Additional Skill Building Resources and Assessments
Vendor
Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) ; and
Learning Resources, Inc. (LRI)

14. Resources and/or curriculum to support instruction Assessment site
Considerations: Selecting Nationally Recognized Work Readiness Credential
Resources and/or curriculum to support instruction
Assessment site
Flexibility and ease of administration
Obtain additional information
Cost verification and negotiation
Build capacity
One or more nationally recognized credentials
Offer Options 1 and 2

15. Considerations: Options 1 and 2
Career planning
Transition planning and services
Career-related instruction and workforce expectations
Opportunity for high school diploma
Parent and student knowledge of CDOS Credential
Instruction-Using CDOS credential in job search
Objective assessment of student skills
Implement with fidelity

16. National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC)
Resources
National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC)
NYS Assessment Sites:
Becoming an Assessment Site:
NYSDOL: ( )
National Career Readiness Certificate: WorkKeys
Employers Recognizing WorkKeys

17. SkillsUSA Work Force Ready System and Employability Assessment
Resources
SkillsUSA Work Force Ready System and Employability Assessment
Blueprints
Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Workforce Skills Certification System (WSCS)
Work Related Competencies
CASAS Competencies
CASAS Basic Skills Content Standards

18. Technical Assistance
June 2013 Field Memorandum: NYS Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential
Questions:
P-12: Office of Special Education: Diploma and Nondiploma Exiting Credentials
Special Education Policy (518)

19. Module 2 – Career Plan and CareerZone
Webinar Modules
Module 1 – Overview
Module 2 – Career Plan and CareerZone
Module 3 – NYS CDOS Learning Standards
Module 4 – CTE Coursework and Work-based Learning
Module 5 – Employability Profile
Module 6 – National Work Readiness Credentials