The National Career Readiness Certificate Michigan WorkKeys Conference 2006 Steve Anderson ACT Workforce Development Division

Workforce Challenges Employee skill gaps Baby boomer retirements Skilled worker shortage Outsourcing T H E C H A L L E N G E

Ready for College, Ready for Work Findings: The same basic skills are needed for work and college A C T ’ S D A T A

Reading for Information – 13 percent score at or below minimum levels Applied Mathematics – 25 percent score at or below minimum levels Locating Information – 32 percent score at or below minimum levels A C T ’ S D A T A ACT Research

T H E S O L U T I O N “In the 1950’s, 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 TM

What is a Career Readiness Certificate? T H E S O L U T I O N A portable credential that documents and certifies an individual’s ability level to learn / perform occupational specific skills. An additional resource for employers to make employment and training decisions. A valuable complement to a job seeker’s portfolio of traditional credentials. A common language among stakeholders to address to our current skill gap circumstances.

Reading for Information Applied Mathematics Locating Information T H E S O L U T I O N TM Certificate Skill Sets

T H E S O L U T I O N TM Certificates & Seals

TM Alabama Indiana Kansas Louisiana Missouri New Mexico North Carolina States pending: Florida Georgia Michigan Kentucky Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Virginia West Virginia NCRC Affiliates State Programs

Certificate Issuance - Individual - State - Regional Life of Certificate - 5 Years Certificate Format - Electronic access to individual profiles Certificate and Seal - Individuals previously issued certificate - Current individual applications TM Certificate Information

Registry Talent Bank Job Bank T H E S O L U T I O N TM MyWorkKeys.com

13 Registry

T H E S O L U T I O N Talent Bank

Job Bank

Job Seekers Employers Educators Trades / Labor Workforce Developers Economic Developers T H E S O L U T I O N TM Who Benefits?

T H E S O L U T I O N Our Partners

Skill Analysis Skill Assessment T H E S O L U T I O N Components Skill Training TM

T H E S O L U T I O N TM NCRC website with links to states NCRC marketing kit Print/media materials Conference / tradeshow materials Targeted direct marketing Trade journal advertisements “Partners for a Skilled Workforce” Skill alignment to occupational projections Marketing Efforts

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T H E S O L U T I O N TM Michigan Readiness Previous experience: CRC Resurrection Statewide network of service providers (40) Service provided to over 200 companies Emergence of new Michigan Merit Exam (2007) Michigan Merit Scholarship Program Statewide NCLB Program Regional initiatives: WIRED Programs Educational initiatives: Kent ISD

TM Working Together

Meaningful to employers, residents, and educators Based on objective, standardized results Easily tied to education, curricula National portability ACT’s pedigree T H E S O L U T I O N TM