Frameworks and Definitions of Work Readiness
Linda M. Noonan, Executive DirectorMassachusetts Business Alliance for Education
Readiness Revised: Advancing Student Readiness and College Success
October 17, 2008New England Board of Higher Education
Skills for College and Work ReadinessAmerican Diploma Project – AchieveThe knowledge and skills that high school graduates need to be successful in college are the same as those they need to be successful in a job that:
Pays a family sustaining wage, Provides benefits, and Offers clear pathways for career advancement through further education and training.
Source: Closing the Expectations Gap 2008, http://www.achieve.org/node/477
Skills for College and Work ReadinessACT – College and Workforce Readiness …whether planning to enter college or workforce training programs after graduation, high schoolstudents need to be educated to a comparable level of readiness in reading and mathematics.
Graduates need this level of readiness if they are to succeed in college-level courses without remediation and to enter workforce training programs ready to learn job-specific skills.
Source: Ready for College and Ready for Work: Same or Different? http://www.act.org/research/policymakers/pdf/ReadinessBrief.pdf
Massachusetts Employers Define Work Readiness Skills
Communication – Written and Presentation Skills
Basic Math and Technical (Computer) Skills
Execution Skills – Problem-solving, following instructions, carrying out multiple tasks
Work Ethic – Motivation and drive, realistic expectations, respect for self and colleagues
Conduct and Deportment – Appropriate workplace etiquette and behavior
Source: Preparing for the Future: Employer Perspectives on Work Readiness Skills http://www.mbae.org/uploads/01122006111154MBAEReport-WorkSkills.pdf
Partnership for 21st Century Skills
Massachusetts ContextGraduation rates and student achievement are both too low to meet future challenges
Academic standards in High Schools are not aligned with postsecondary and workplace entry requirements
A rigorous high school curriculum is an indicator of future success yet access not equal
Postsecondary education and training is essential for most jobs yet preparation not a universal expectation
MBAE Recommended Framework for College and Career Readiness
Reform the fundamental high school model
Align Curriculum with demands of college and career
Ensure assessments measure relevant skills and content mastery
Create a system of partnerships to support and sustain reforms
Educating a 21st Century Workforce: A Call to Action on High School Reformhttp://www.mbae.org/uploads/06102008230519EducatingA21stCenturyWorkforce.pdf
“Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.”
-B.F. Skinner
Linda M. Noonan617-737-3122
