Coming to Michigan:Coming to Michigan:The National Career Readiness The National Career Readiness CertificateCertificate

NCRC bridging classrooms and careersNCRC bridging classrooms and careers

To regain our economy and To regain our economy and prosperity, Michigan employers, prosperity, Michigan employers,

schools, and families are schools, and families are working together with their working together with their

communitiescommunitiesto create the jobs and to create the jobs and

employees of the futureemployees of the future

The Changing Needs of The Changing Needs of Michigan’s Workplace Mean a Michigan’s Workplace Mean a

Need for Higher Skills and Need for Higher Skills and Lifelong LearningLifelong Learning

• Our state needs jobs with bright futures to Our state needs jobs with bright futures to support our familiessupport our families

• To draw those kinds of jobs, we need a To draw those kinds of jobs, we need a workforce with good skills, well prepared workforce with good skills, well prepared for lifelong learningfor lifelong learning

To prepare all students for To prepare all students for success in the new global success in the new global economy, our superintendents economy, our superintendents and principals have launched a and principals have launched a new initiative on behalf of new initiative on behalf of students…students…

The National Career Readiness The National Career Readiness Certificate is Based on Three Skill Certificate is Based on Three Skill

Areas employers say are most Areas employers say are most needed:needed:

Applied MathematicsApplied Mathematics

Reading for InformationReading for Information

Locating InformationLocating Information

The National Career Readiness The National Career Readiness Certificate is intended to Certificate is intended to

complement the high school complement the high school diploma and other employment diploma and other employment

credentialscredentials

What is the National What is the National Career Readiness Career Readiness

Certificate?Certificate?Developed by ACT™ Developed by ACT™

• Same company which Same company which created the well known created the well known college entrance examcollege entrance exam

• Research shows that Research shows that readinessreadiness for college for college and and readinessreadiness for for work require the same work require the same levels of preparationlevels of preparation

What is the National Career Readiness What is the National Career Readiness Certificate?Certificate?• Portable credential that documents and Portable credential that documents and

certifies an individual’s ability to learn and certifies an individual’s ability to learn and perform occupational skillsperform occupational skills

• An additional resource for employers to make An additional resource for employers to make employment and training decisionsemployment and training decisions

• A valuable complement to an individual’s A valuable complement to an individual’s portfolio of traditional credentialsportfolio of traditional credentials

• A common language among stakeholders to A common language among stakeholders to address our current skill gap circumstancesaddress our current skill gap circumstances

Job JobSpecific

Skills

Occupational Skills

WorkKeys Foundational Skills

Applied Applied

MathematicMathematicss

Reading for Reading for

InformationInformationLocating Locating

InformatioInformationn

Occupational and Employability SkillsOccupational and Employability Skills

What’s in it for Employers?What’s in it for Employers?

• Nationally recognizedNationally recognized

• Aligned to occupational job duties and tasksAligned to occupational job duties and tasks

• Predictor of successPredictor of success– Reduced turnoverReduced turnover– Reduced training and development costsReduced training and development costs

• Reduced pre-employment assessments Reduced pre-employment assessments costs and time costs and time

• Inexpensive—Already part of Michigan Inexpensive—Already part of Michigan Merit Exam (Applied Mathematics and Merit Exam (Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information)Reading for Information)

• Proof of ReadinessProof of Readiness

What’s in it for Employers?, What’s in it for Employers?, cont’dcont’d

What’s in it for studentsWhat’s in it for studentsand job seekers?and job seekers?

• Nationally recognized and portable—can use it Nationally recognized and portable—can use it across the state or the country with many across the state or the country with many different types of employersdifferent types of employers

• Demonstrates the ability to apply what you Demonstrates the ability to apply what you know to job specific skillsknow to job specific skills

• Allows entrance into higher wage careers while Allows entrance into higher wage careers while advancing skills and educationadvancing skills and education

0.0010,000.0020,000.0030,000.0040,000.0050,000.0060,000.00

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Pay by Combined NCRC ScoresPay by Combined NCRC ScoresPay

Pay

99

3363361010

1,0091,0091111

9599591212

1,7511,7511313

4524521414

3293291515

3473471616

707026,6826,6899

24,16024,160 29,57629,576 34,97334,973 43,3943,3944

49,6949,6911

49,0849,0822

52,4652,4611

Combined NCRC Scores With Profile CountCombined NCRC Scores With Profile Count

$$

BronzeBronze

SilverSilver

GoldGold

Those Skills in LifeThose Skills in Life

Applied Mathematics

6

3

5

4

7

<3

Maintain Checkbook Register

Postsecondary Ready

Taxes, Mortgage, Insurance, and Credit Card decisions

Make Change

Brickmason Apprenticeship25% of living wage jobs require a 4 year degree

65% require a 2 year degree or occupational training

Those Skills at WorkThose Skills at WorkApplied Mathematics

6

3

5

4

7

<3

Engineers, ScientistsAuditors, Technicians

Managers, Loan Officers

Actors, Clerks

School Counselors, Drivers

Judges, Social Workers

Certify Readiness Levels

Healthcare Examples AM LI RFI Median Pay

Registered Nurses 5 4 5 $53,640Licensed Practical Nurses5 4 5 34,650 Nursing Aides 3 4 4 21,220

Radiologic Technologists 3 4 5 44,730 Emergency Medical Techs 4 5 5

25,630Pharmacy Technicians 4 4 5 24,160

What’s in it for Educators?What’s in it for Educators?

• Uses a common set of skills that can Uses a common set of skills that can be taught and developedbe taught and developed

• ALREADYALREADY part of the Michigan Merit part of the Michigan Merit Exam—Exam—NOTNOT one more thing one more thing

What’s in it for Educators?, What’s in it for Educators?, cont’dcont’d

“New hires needmore math!”

“How much more?”

The EmployerSAYS. . .

The Educator’sRESPONSE. . .

“We need better reading skills.”

What’s in it for Educators?, What’s in it for Educators?, cont’dcont’d

“How much better?”

The EmployerSAYS. . .

The Educator’sRESPONSE. . .

What’s in it for Educators?, What’s in it for Educators?, cont’dcont’d

We all know these can be

endless discussions.

This communication

problem extends throughout the

entire Workforce

Development System.

How does it Work?How does it Work?

All 3’sAll 3’s

All 5’sAll 5’sAll 4’sAll 4’s

BronzeBronzeSilverSilver

GoldGold

Reading forReading forInformationInformation

LocatingLocatingInformationInformation

AppliedAppliedMathematicsMathematics

Or aboveOr above

Or aboveOr above

Or aboveOr above

T H E S O L U T I O N

TM

Certificates & Seals

Back of Certificate

APPLIED MATHEMATICSSkills for Level 3

• Solve problems that require a single type of mathematics operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) using whole numbers

• Add or subtract negative numbers

• Change numbers from one form to another using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or percentages

• Convert simple money and time units (e.g., hours to minutes)

APPLIED MATHEMATICSSkills for Level 3

Sample Question:In your job as a cashier, a customer gives

you a $20 bill to pay for a can of coffee that costs $3.84. How much change

should you give back?

Back of Certificate

LOCATING INFORMATIONSkills for Level 4

• Find several pieces of information in one or two graphics

• Understand how graphics are related to each other

• Summarize information from one or two straightforward graphics

• Identify trends shown in one or two straightforward graphics

• Compare information and trends shown in one or two straightforward graphics

LOCATING INFORMATIONSkills for Level 4

Sample Question:You must sort clothes in

a dry cleaning establishment according

to the customer’sinstructions. According to the form shown, howshould this customer’s

shirt be treated?

Back of Certificate

READING FOR INFORMATIONSkills for Level 5

• Figure out the correct meaning of a word based on how the word is used

• Identify the correct meaning of an acronym that is defined in the document

• Identify the paraphrased definition of a technical term or jargon that is defined in the document

Back of Certificate

READING FOR INFORMATION, cont’d

Skills for Level 5• Apply technical terms and jargon

and relate them to stated situations

• Apply straightforward instructions to a new situation that is similar to the one described in the material

• Apply complex instructions that include conditionals to situations described in the materials

READING FOR INFORMATION

Skills for Level 5

Sample Question:Goldberg’s Auto Parts is served by more than fifty different accounts, each with its

own sales representative, company name, corporate address, and shipping address. As a shipping

and receiving clerk at Goldberg’s, you are required to return defective merchandise to the manufacturer.

Standard procedure for returning an item begins with your written request to the company for authorization. Always send the request to the corporate address, not to the shipping address. Unless the company file folder contains a form for this procedure, write a business letter to the manufacturer supplying the item’s

stock number, cost, and invoice number; the date it was received; and the reason for its return. The manufacturer’s reply will include an authorization

number from the sales representative, a sticker for you to place on the outside of the box to identify it as an authorized return, and a closing date for the

company’s acceptance of the returned item. If you do not attach the provided sticker, your returned box will be refused by the manufacturer as unauthorized, and you will need to obtain a new letter, authorization, sticker, and closing date.

Always send a returned box to the shipping address, not to the company’s corporate address.

According to the policy shown, what should you do if you lose an authorization sticker?

Focus on WorkKeys System(Significant benefit to employer andemployer’s workforce performance

with commensurate cost)

Focus Shifting toWorkKeys System

(Major benefit to employerwith modest costs)

Focus on Credential(Low cost to employer,

no out-of-pocket expense.Significant benefit to

community andsubstantial benefit

to employer)

Employer Adoption Use Model

Job

TotalWorkKeys

systemimplementation

Selection usingcertificate levels and assessment results

ACT National Career Readiness Certificate

Training/Employee development

Call to ActionCall to Action

• Explain benefits to students, job seekers, Explain benefits to students, job seekers, employers, and community membersemployers, and community members

• Talk to employers, educators, and other Talk to employers, educators, and other community memberscommunity members

• Sign Letter of Commitment—ask others Sign Letter of Commitment—ask others to sign it too!to sign it too!

National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) Letter of Commitment

This letter communicates your commitment to support the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) as Michigan’s workforce skills credential.

Please check the appropriate boxes that apply to your level of commitment for the NCRC:

Your Commitment:

We will ask all job applicants the following question “Do you have a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)?”

We will recognize the NCRC in hiring, promoting, and developing employees for selected positions.

We give the Michigan Career Readiness Certificate

Advocates permission to use our business name in public awareness efforts to promote the NCRC including posting our company name on the following website:

www.michigancrc.org

Employer’s Call to ActionEmployer’s Call to Action

Ask Ask ALLALL job applicants for job applicants forhis/her NCRC. . . his/her NCRC. . .

Recognize the NCRCRecognize the NCRCin hiring, promoting,in hiring, promoting,and developing employees. . .and developing employees. . .

Give Give MichigancrcMichigancrc permissionpermissionto use your name into use your name inpublic awareness effortspublic awareness effortsto promote the NCRC. . .to promote the NCRC. . .

WebsitesWebsites

www.nationalcareerreadiness.org

www.michigancrc.org

““Coming Coming togethertogether is a is a beginning; keeping beginning; keeping togethertogether

is progress; is progress; working working togethertogether is success.” is success.”

–Henry Ford –Henry Ford

““A A small groupsmall group of thoughtful of thoughtful people could change the people could change the

world. Indeed, it's the world. Indeed, it's the only only thingthing that ever has.” that ever has.”

– –Margaret MeadMargaret Mead