the mismatch between skills required for jobs and skills of the workforce has a significant impact...
TRANSCRIPT
Using the National Career Readiness
Certificate to Bridge Iowa’s Skills Gap
The mismatch between skills required for jobs and skills of the workforce has a significant impact on productivity and revenue across all industries.
Middle-skill jobs account for more than 50% of available jobs in Iowa. Only 33% of the workforce has the necessary skills to fill these roles.
The Skilled Iowa initiative works to increase skill levels of Iowa’s workforce.
What’s the Problem?
A way for employers to find a qualified work force
An opportunity for workers to upgrade their skills
An economic development strategy for Iowa communities
What is Skilled Iowa?
STEM
Iowa Workforce Development
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Iowa Department of Education
Iowa Businesses
Iowa’s Educational Community
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Skilled Iowa Partners
Increase the number of employers that recognize and support the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
Increase the number of Iowa students and job seekers holding the NCRC – add it to their portfolios and résumés
Make NCRC-related training available to all Iowans – beginning in the 9th grade
Create a pathway for connecting unemployed Iowans with career opportunities
Skilled Iowa Implementation
Improve the quality of our workforce – existing, transitioning, emerging
Fill the jobs of current and prospective Iowa employers
Identify the skills needed to fill open Iowa jobs
Ensure Iowa’s workforce has the skill sets sought by employers – now and in the future
Desired Results
Adopt and embrace three fundamental skills:
∙ Applied Mathematics
∙ Reading for Information
∙ Locating Information
in K-12, in our business strategies and in our expectations of the Iowa labor force.
Skill Basics
By 2020, more than 90% of all jobs will require skill levels beyond those gained in high school
In the United States, most training is done on the job, and all indications are that this situation will not change in the coming decades
The Nationwide Issue
Employers have become disillusioned with both the trainability of high school and college graduates and with their work ethic
Businesses need employees who are trainable and who can benefit from skill enhancement
We’re beginning to see states require that students take either the four multiple choice ACT tests or the three ACT WorkKeys assessments that comprise the National Career Readiness Certificate
Trainability?
Evidence-based, industry-recognized, nationally portable credential based upon the WorkKeys® job skills assessment system
Employers look for it from job candidates because it is a valid predictor of job performance
Comprised of three foundational skill assessments: Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics, Locating Information
What is the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)?
Wanted: Applicants with Certified Workplace Skills Employers need a way to quickly pinpoint individuals with key, verifiable workplace skills. Job Seekers need a credential that provides a clear picture of these key career readiness skills. That’s where the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC™) comes in. It will be a key factor in determining how we will prepare our future workforce.
ACT has profiled more than 18,000 job titles ranging from white-collar professional to blue-collar technical positions
Extensive research has been done on these
jobs to identify the essential skills and skill levels for employee selection, hiring, and training
How was it Developed?
Essential workplace skills required for 21st century jobs:
Problem solving Critical thinking Reading and using work-related text Applying information from workplace documents to solve
problems Applying mathematical reasoning to work-related problems Setting up and performing work-related math calculations Locating, synthesizing, and applying information presented
graphically Comparing, summarizing, and analyzing information presented in
multiple related graphics
What Does It Measure?
The Certificate validates essential skills important for a range of jobs
Determines areas for skill improvement and training
Employers, career seekers, economic developers, and educators can use the NCRC to improve the quality of the workforce
Enhances employability, sets the stage for career advancement and lifelong learning
Essential work habits, behaviors, and attitudes required in today’s workplace
Effective—communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, problem solving, and critical thinking
Employability skills?
1. Proof of preparedness
2. Competitive advantage
3. Nationally recognized
4. Higher Skills = Higher Pay
The NCRC is a Unique Tool
Certificate WorkKeys® Scores
Platinum 6s and above
Gold 5s and above
Silver 4s and above
Bronze 3s and above
ResultsCongratulations! You have completed the testing required to qualify for Iowa’s National Career Readiness Certificate. Your testing center has provided you with Level Score Reports you can use to determine what level of certificate you have earned. The certificate earned is based upon the lowest score of the three tests; Therefore, in order to earn a Bronze certificate, all three scores must be a three or above. Silver certificates require all fours and above and Gold Certificates require all fives and above. Platinum Certificates require all sixes and above.
Individuals who qualify are free to report their results to employers right away. IowaWORKS will mail your certificate as soon as it is received from ACT.
Bronze = has the necessary foundational skills for 16% of the jobs in the national ACT database
Silver = skills for 67% of the jobs in the database
Gold = 93% Platinum = 99%
Based on ACT’s WorkKeys scores:
Match workplace skills to employer needs Show employers across the U.S.
documentation of skills Stand out from other applicants lacking
credentials Demonstrate commitment to succeed Bolster their earning potential (ACT research
shows that higher Certificate levels correlate with higher pay)
Identify workplace skill gaps
Immediate Benefits
Prepare students for life beyond high school, including their careers
Offer them the opportunity to earn ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
Help students move their applications to the top of the stack and compete against adults with experience
Give Your Students the Advantage
NCRC shows an individual’s qualifications in essential workplace skills. It is not a replacement for the high school diploma or any other credential or certification.
It is a reinforcement of high school standards and a portal to tutorial learning, remediation, postsecondary education, and work.
Apply Skills Learned in School
The NCRC is the foundation of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) stackable credential program. It is also a key component of credentialing programs in other industries, such as energy, construction, and IT. Students on various career paths earn the NCRC on their way to earning industry credentials and certifications.
Postsecondary
Students and job seekers wanting to improve their scores and obtain a higher level certificate can receive additional training from providers across the state
IWD utilizes the Career Ready 101® program
Strengthen Skills
Career Ready is a complete interactive learning tool designed specifically to develop the applied career readiness skills
The program includes targeted, self-paced instruction, pre-and post-assessments, a complete learning management system and an occupational job profile database
Students can complete courses and add to resume
Career Ready 101
It’s true!!!
The NCRC is offered at no cost to any Iowa student or worker through the Skilled Iowa initiative!
No Cost?
Coordinate with local IowaWORKS office staff Have students complete registration form, request
accommodation if required, signed by parent/guardian if under 18
IowaWORKS schedules and proctors testing or provides training to school staff in advance to certify proctor
Students take assessments—either all three together OR intro and 1st assessment one day followed by 2nd and 3rd assessments on second day OR one assessment each day; 55 minutes allowed per assessment
Scores immediately available; Certificates come in approximately two weeks
Testing Process
We recommend getting student buy-in before they begin testing
IowaWORKS staff can visit school and provide program overview/marketing
Sell student on why this credential is important and the benefit they will see
Eliminate poor results with students that are unmotivated
Student Buy-in
Dear Clear Lake High School Parent/Guardian: Your high school student has an opportunity to “Stand Out from the Crowd” of job applicants by earning ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) at no cost as part a statewide Skilled Iowa initiative. The NCRC will help your student understand the skills required by employers and prepare for a successful career!
Why is the NCRC important to your student’s future? Each day employers receive stacks of applications and resumes from not only local applicants, but across the country and around the world. Students entering the world of work are not just competing against their peers, but against experienced workers. The NCRC is a means to verify that they have the foundational skills to perform the tasks for the position. NCRC assessments measure “real world” skills that employers believe are critical to job success. Questions are based on everyday situations in the work world. Once your student has successfully completed three assessments, they will be awarded a National Career Readiness Certificate at the bronze, silver, gold or platinum level. This national credential will be an enhancement to your student’s diploma and resume. Visit www.skillediowa.com for more information and a list of participating employers.
Your student’s school is invested in providing the tools your student needs to be competitive in today’s labor force. Please complete the enclosed registration form for your student and return to the school by _________.
Photo ID required Eating, drinking, use of tobacco products or
reading materials not permitted in assessment room
Cell phones, media players, or electronic devices not allowed in the assessment room and may not be used during breaks
Only items allowed are provided and include a basic calculator, pencil and paper for the Applied Mathematics assessment
Ear plugs are also available
Test Day
Recommend student try assessments without accommodation if willing or complete pre-tests in Career Ready 101 to gauge readiness
Accommodations must be requested in advance and approved by regional IowaWORKS manager
Coordinated with school and proctor once approved
Accommodations
Use of special testing materials provided by ACT such as: Braille test booklets, Audio DVDs, open caption videotapes, reader scripts, large-print test booklets and answer documents
Use of a sign language interpreter
Assistance in recording responses
Use of word-to-word foreign language glossaries
Extended testing time
Types of Accommodations
Iowa Workforce Development and all other parties will make a good faith effort to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. All information provided will be held in strict confidence.
SECTION 1 - Examinee Information
Please fill out the following information in the event that we need to contact you about your assessment or accommodations.Name: Phone:
WorkKeys/NCRCAmericans with Disabilities Act Request for
Accommodation Form
SECTION 2 - Tasks Required to Take the Assessment
When taking any assessment, it is vital that the testing process accurately reflects your knowledge level, skills and abilities. One or more of the following activities will need to be performed when taking these assessment(s):* Use a keyboard and mouse - Internet testing only* View and read items on a PC monitor - Internet testing only* Understand and follow instructions provided* Read items* Fill out bubble answer folder with pencil* Turn pages* Write in cursive or print* Listen to an audiotape* View a DVD via a monitor
Request for Accommodation Form
SECTION 3 - Do You Need an Accommodation to Perform the Tasks Identified Above?
Yes No
No - The form is complete.Yes - Complete section 4.
Request for Accommodation Form
SECTION 4 - Verifying Your Disability
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, having a record of such impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment.
It is your responsibility as the individual requesting reasonable accommodation(s) to provide appropriate documentation that verifies the accommodations your disability requires to participate in the assessment process. This Agency reserves the right to verify the authenticity of any documentation submitted to it for this purpose. Please be advised that specific accommodations recommended in any documentation will be evaluated with an understanding that there may be multiple ways to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. In other words, you may be offered an accommodation that differs from what was recommended in your documentation.
After receipt of your documentation, up to two (2) weeks will be needed to provide adequate time to review the documentation and verify the nature and the extent of your disability, and to identify appropriate accommodation(s). If the requested accommodation(s) would change the essential nature of the assessment or impose an undue burden, all or part of the assessment may not be accommodated. A WorkKeys® Center representative will contact you to schedule a meeting to discuss your situation and to schedule the date for you to take the assessment.
Request for Accommodation Form
1. Please indicate the name, address and phone number of a qualified professional who can make recommendations regarding what reasonable accommodations should be made in order for you to take the assessments. (For a list of professionals or organizations who can
certify a disability please see your WorkKeys Test Administrator)
2. Please describe the specific accommodation(s) you are requesting. Any constructive suggestions you may have regarding reasonable accommodations listing those you have found effective in the past would be appreciated. Please focus on ability to perform any of the Tasks to take the assessment.
Release of Information
The undersigned, an examinee at _________________________ High School hereby consents to the following:
I authorize:_________________________(health care or other qualified professional) to disclose and release to Iowa Workforce Development the following information regarding accommodations necessary to take the WorkKeys Assessments/NCRC.• *Certification of disability • *Recommendation of reasonable accommodation
Request for Accommodation Form
Examples of student successes—accomplished with no advance preparation
Senior student struggled with reading skills. Requested/received extra time accommodation. Scored: Applied Math – Platinum
Locating Information – GoldReading for Information – Silver
Senior student typically given accommodation by school, tested without. Took all three back-to-back! Scored: Applied Math – Gold
Locating Information – SilverReading for Information – Silver
iJAG students scored Gold, Silver and Bronze Senior HS student earned Platinum (less than .4% of all test takers in Iowa) New GED grad earned Platinum
High School Student Scores
County Economic Development Awardi.e. North Iowa Corridor Achievement Award$100 for Platinum, $25 for Gold
Local Business rewards students that earn NCRC with free food/beverages, discount on merchandise, etc
Article/photo in local paper or story on local tv news
Incentives/Recognition
Availability of skilled labor is a major factor when identifying the best locations for expansion and relocation
NCRC represents a unique source of objective data describing workforce skills
Component in strategic planning and marketing activities at the state, regional, or local levels
Supporting Economic Development
Over 45,749 certified Career Ready IowansPlatinum: 266Gold: 10,955Silver: 25,986Bronze: 9,019
As of June 5, Iowa has:
More than 10,000 business sites in Iowa are supporting the Skilled Iowa initiative and recommending the National Career Readiness Certificate
www.skillediowa.org
Iowa Businesses
Testing Locations
High Schools College campuses IowaWORKS offices Job sites Other community sites
In order to provide Iowans, veterans and active-duty service members every opportunity to attain certification, NCRC testing and re-testing is offered at no cost on the condition that the re-test policy is followed. This policy is applicable to all Iowa NCRC testing funded through Iowa Workforce Development appropriations.
Customers who test but do not attain a Certificate or the level of Certificate desired may re-test at no cost as long as the Career Ready 101 training program is used to improve examinee skill level. This online learning tool is offered at no cost and provides lessons and practice problems similar to those on the actual assessments. Contact an IowaWORKS representative for more information and/or login instructions.
There is a 30-day waiting period between assessments.
There is no limit to the number of times a person may re-test, as long as the assigned Career Ready 101 lessons are completed.
If an individual wishes to re-test but refuses Career Ready 101 remediation or does not complete the assigned training level, the customer must cover the cost of the assessment(s) prior to testing, including related Certificate printing cost. Payment is accepted in the form of a check or money order.
Current Pricing:
Applied Mathematics: $15Reading for Information: $15
Locating Information: $15Certificate Fee: $3
Re-testing
Sponsored by Iowa Workforce Development
Links job seekers with businesses looking to hire and willing to provide
job skills training
Skilled Iowa Internship Program
“There is little doubt that the success of an economy depends first and foremost on the innovation and skills of the workforce. In order for a market to achieve a high level of technical skills and innovative thinking, it must provide a base of employability skills. Iowa’s National Career Readiness Certificate program is the tool used to assess and develop our core workforce needs.” Mark SeckmanPresident, Priority One
“This program allows us not only to identify whether potential employees are available and affordable, but also to determine if they are capable of performing the work. It is an innovative response to the workforce issue.” Ronald R. ReedPresident & CeoMercy Hospital Iowa City
“During the employee hiring and placement process, the National Career Readiness Certificate is an effective measure of foundational skills that are often ignored until the employee is on the job. It will assist both the employer and the employee in assessing an individual’s growth potential and matching the skill sets required by the job.” Michael WappDirector Of Business/IT SolutionsAEGON
“The Skilled Iowa Initiative is a critical step in dealing with the skilled labor shortages affecting Iowa. In order to overcome thischallenge, education, government and privateindustry must work together for innovative solutions.”Governor Terry E. Branstad
Determining which students should test When should testing begin – Junior or Senior
year? Logistics (when during school year, which
computer lab, etc) Assistance from AEA staff Community incentives
Clear Lake
Questions/Discussion
Thank you for attending!