1. + Massachusetts’ Career Readiness Initiative Cheryl Scott Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development National Fund for Workforce Solutions Conference June 18, 2014 1

2. MA Career Readiness Initiative Context Unemployment is most acute and chronic for individuals with the least amount of education and technical skill 1/3 of students entering public higher education require literacy and math remediation (higher at community colleges) Over 20,000 individuals on wait lists for adult education classes Lack of alignment across basic skill pathways across systems and resources: multiple assessments, retesting, no correlation to job requirements 2

3. + MA Career Readiness Initiative Objectives: Supplement basic skills delivery for low-skilled individuals through statewide implementation of ACT Career Ready Improve work-based skills and job matching Align and coordinate across basic skills pathways (Adult Education, Workforce Development, and Community Colleges) through shared tools 3 3

4. + Massachusetts Model 4 100 Learning Labs (OSCCs, community colleges, ABE programs) Assess and Remediate Improve individual’s skill Career Ready 101 NCRC+ Testing Sites (OSCC & community colleges) Test Literacy, Numeracy, Work Behavior Credential National Career Readiness Certificate Plus Job Analysis 16 Staff Analyze competencies of real job openings (MA and nationwide) Job Match 4

5. + Partners and Resources 5 Funders & Key StakeholdersContribution Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Department of Career Services (OSCCs & WIBs) Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board (Steering Committee) $250k Community College & Workforce Development Transformation Agenda Grant (TAACCCT grant) $200k Department of Higher Education $50k Dept. Elementary and Secondary Education (Adult Education System) $50k SkillWorks $50k The Boston Foundation (capacity building grant) $150k

6. + CRI Workplan Steering Committee Formed Survey and focus groups Contracting & Procurement Early Engagement & Procurement (Oct 2013 – June 2014) Career Ready 101 training & staff development (Summer – Fall) Training & deployment of testing sites (Fall – Winter) Convene regional user groups, blending learning workshops Learning Lab & Testing Sites (July 2014 – Oct 2016) Employer focus groups Employer outreach & champion identification Job profiler training & rollout Employer Engagement (Oct 2014 – Oct 2016) Analyze regional, system, and statewide data trends Make policy recommendations Outcomes & Evaluation (Jan 2015 – Oct. 2016) Work Ready communities Expanding scope (re-entry, school to career) Next Steps 6

7. + Results & Outcomes Outcomes/Results to be Measured Individuals improving skill level through Career Ready 101 Individuals certified work ready (NCRC+) Direct enrollment in post-secondary (no remediation) Individuals who obtain and retain employment Employers using NCRC+ in hiring process Return on Investment (ROI) Process Measures Across Systems Partners coordinating around common service delivery and training models (intra- and inter-system) Partners coordinating across stakeholders providing common certifications (NCRC) 7

8. + Contact Cheryl Scott Director, MA Workforce Investment Board cheryl.scott@state.ma.us careerreadiness@state.ma.us (617) 626-7112 8 8