Florida Ready to Work Annual FACTE Conference July

Florida Ready to Work Annual FACTE Conference July 2008

Florida Ready to Work § New employee credentialing program that builds, tests and scores job skills and work habits § Focus on core communication and problem-solving skills required by 85 percent of all jobs today - Applied Math – Workplace math ie: calculating percentage discounts and markups - Reading for Information – Using memos, letters, directions, signs, notices, bulletins, policies and regulations - Locating Information – Working with charts, graphs, tables, forms, flowcharts, diagrams, floor plans, maps and instrument gauges

Florida Ready to Work § Based on 15, 000+ job profiles across the country § Skills required for entry-level to professional, across industries § Optional Work Habits “soft skills” certification – attitude, initiative, teamwork, time management and other customer service skills all employers need

Florida Ready to Work § Voluntary, complements other degrees/credentials § All Florida residents, implementation partners, employers – free! § Primary program components: - Courseware - Assessments - Credential - Job Profiling

Courseware § Measure current skills, identify skill gaps and build skills § All 9 curriculum subject areas plus Work Habits – self-directed, unlimited, free! § Online access from any computer, anytime, anywhere § Tools to monitor student/jobseeker/employee progress § Spanish translation and text-to-speech features § Alignments to Sunshine State Standards, FCAT, TABE, GED and others § Relevancy, skills for the work world

Assessments § Different than other Assessments, measure ability to apply skills on the job - Applied Math - Reading for Information - Locating Information § Criterion referenced § Proctored § Approximately 1 hour each § Developed by ACT

Credential § How to earn the Credential 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Enroll with a participating Assessment Center Take the online Placement Tests Use the online Courseware, as needed Complete Work Habits, minimum post-test score of 4 Take all three required Assessments, minimum score of 3 Get the Credential § Credential levels Bronze – Minimum score of 3, ready for 30% of jobs Silver – Minimum score of 4, ready for 65% of jobs Gold – Minimum score of 5, ready for 90% of jobs § Portable, 30+ states with similar programs

Job Profiling § EEOC compliant hiring, promotion and training tool § Process to identify the core skills and skill levels required for a specific job § Conducted by trained Florida job profilers - Review company background and job history - Observe workers on the job - Meet/interview incumbent workers and supervisors § Results in a customized report aligning core job tasks with the skills and skill levels required for job success § Fee-based service, $2, 500 per profile

Program Progress The Numbers § 500+ Assessment Center locations registered § 73, 000+ Jobseekers enrolled § 32, 000+ Assessments delivered § 7, 300+ New Credentials issued, 9, 000+ Grandfathered § 125+ Employer Partners CUMULATIVE, APRIL 2007 – JUNE 2008

Program Progress The Numbers § Momentum building, participation growing every day - 25+ New Assessment Center locations registered per month - 5, 000+ New Jobseekers enrolled per month - 5, 000+ Courseware Hours per month § May 2008 – Record breaking results - 10, 000+ Assessments – Triple any prior month - 2, 400+ Credentials – Double any prior month AVERAGE PER MONTH

Program Progress Credential Leaders § School Districts 250+ Credentials Each - Okaloosa County (9 schools) - Brevard County (14 schools) - Citrus County (5 schools) - Volusia County (13 schools) - Lee County (15 schools) - Flagler County (3 schools) CUMULATIVE, MAY 2008

Program Progress Credential Leaders § Regional Workforce Boards 250+ Credentials Each - Workforce Plus (Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla) - Workforce Alliance (Palm Beach) - Work. Source (Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns) - Gulf Coast Workforce (Bay, Franklin, Gulf) CUMULATIVE, MAY 2008

Program Progress Credential Leaders § Stand Out Schools 100+ Credentials Each - Crestview High School (Okaloosa County) - Matanzas High School (Flagler County) - Mariner High School (Lee County) - Baker County High School (Baker County) - Citrus High School (Citrus County) - Seabreeze High School (Volusia County) - Baker High School (Okaloosa County) - Lecanto High School (Citrus County) CUMULATIVE, MAY 2008

Legislation § Continued support – Governor, House and Senate § CAPE statute, “each career and professional academy must provide opportunities for students to obtain the Florida Ready to Work Certification” (1003. 493 (4)(j) F. S. ) § Florida Ready to Work specifically defined, “codified” in Florida law (CS/SB 1908, Lines 646 -665)

Legislation § Each standard high school diploma shall include a designation reflecting the Florida Ready to Work Credential, as applicable, effective 2008 -09 school year (CS/SB 1908, Lines 500 -520) - Department of Education to distribute a Technical Assistance Paper for school districts by early August 2008 - Florida Ready to Work team to work with school districts to verify/provide data

2008 -09 Funding § Fully funded by Florida Legislature - Courseware – Unlimited access to all 9 curriculum areas plus Work Habits - Assessments – Applied Math, Locating Information, Reading for Information - Credential – Printed/mailed to jobseeker or Assessment Center - Public Awareness Campaign – Materials, advertising, events and more - Business Outreach – Up to four pilot projects led by Workforce Florida, Inc. § “Recurring” funds, signaling commitment to program

2008 -09 Funding § $10 stipend per Assessment (AM, LI, RI) - Total $30 per student/jobseeker, not required to “pass” - If does not pass, stipend paid for one re-take, maximum $60 - Strongly recommended student/jobseeker takes Placement Test and scores a minimum of 3 and/or completes Courseware at Level 3 before taking corresponding Assessment - No sequence, no time requirement to take Assessments - All non-employer partners eligible - Organization decides how to use funds

Employer Connection § Gives participating employers a competitive edge - Takes the guesswork out of hiring - Reduces employee turnover - Reduces training time and costs - Builds skills of current workforce - EEOC compliant - Saves time and money, increasing productivity and profitability - It’s free! § Message: Get The Credential. Get The Advantage.

Employer Connection § First Step: Become an Employer Partner RECOGNIZE the Credential when attached to a resume or presented by a potential employee. § Second Step: Use the Program REQUEST the Credential in job orders, announcements and applications. REQUIRE the Credential when hiring or evaluating employees for promotion.

Employer Outreach Update § Launched employer-focused awareness campaign February 2008 § Secured support of statewide business organizations - Florida Chamber of Commerce - HR Florida (State affiliate for the Society of Human Resource Management) - Associated Industries of Florida § 125+ Employer Partners, list growing every day § Large and small, across industries, across the state § List posted www. floridareadytowork. comEmployer. Partners

Marketing § Paid Advertising - Florida Trend - Wall Street Journal (Florida) - National Public Radio (Florida) - Markets with momentum – radio, newspaper § Strategic Partners – emails, web content, newsletters § Employer Events/Presentations § Direct mail campaign targeting Florida employers with 50+ employees § Promotional Materials – brochures, posters, videos, displays and more

Ideas and Innovations Okaloosa County School District § Superintendent chief cheerleader and actively involved every step of the way § Hired a dedicated, district level coordinator § Aligning with CHOICE Institutes, starting with students enrolled in the Okaloosa Applied Technology Center (OATC) CHOICE Institutes § Enrolled 800+ students, 9 schools § Presented Credentials at packed graduation ceremony Jeff Scroggins, Director-CHOICE Institutes (850) 259 -2121, scrogginsc@mail. okaloosa. k 12. fl. us

Ideas and Innovations Putnam County School District § Targeted career academy, career and technology education and GED exit students § Pilot with at-risk students including GED students not on target and seniors with lack of credits or GPA below 2. 0 § Incorporated Courseware as assignments, extra credit § Looking ahead to fall 2008 - Refresher training during teacher planning days - Start early with students taking Placement Test first semester - Include scores as part of nine-week/semester average Janet Cauble, Career Specialist-Putnam County School District (386) 329 -0536, jcauble@putnamschools. org

Ideas and Innovations Volusia County School District § Superintendent provided leadership statewide and locally § Developed a comprehensive, “model” implementation plan § Started with DCT, OJT, career academy internship and a hand-picked pilot group of juniors/seniors moving into the workforce § 16 locations – 9 high schools, 5 alternative education programs and “Career Coach” § Trained and assigned coordinators at each location Kristin Bowles-Pierce, Career and Technical Education Specialist-Volusia County Schools (386) 255 -6475 x 60180, kcbowle 1@volusia. k 12. fl. us

Ideas and Innovations Bayside High School (Pinellas County) § Drop-out prevention high school, offers Florida Ready to Work as a “class” § Guidance counselor comes from the corporate world, understands/communicates what employers need § Closely monitors student progress § Applauds student progress – “shout outs, ” bulletin boards § Presented Credentials at graduation, those not receiving one have already called to come back over the summer Susan Mathewson, Lead Teacher-Bayside High School (Pinellas County) (239) 825 -3984, Shooting. The. Bull@aol. com

Ideas and Innovations Sarasota County School District § Support from Superintendent down through organization § Dedicated, district level coordinator with “sales” skills § Presentations to students to introduce the program § Donated student incentives – i-pods, gift cards § Engaging employers to recognize the Credential – 10+ § Webpage, newsletter, news releases to build awareness § Creating employment connections for students through chamber of commerce partnership Sharon Albrecht, Program Administrator-Sarasota County School District (941) 914 -0046, Sharon@Suncoast. Ready. To. Work. com

Ideas and Innovations Brevard County School District § District level leadership team to keep momentum going and to closely monitor results § Introduced in all high schools, starting with DCT, marketing and drop-out prevention students § Documented clear correlation between Courseware use and Assessment scores § Looking ahead to fall 2008 - Enrolled 11, 000+ current sophomores/juniors to hit ground running - Aligning Courseware with DCT and marketing curriculum Julie Sanders, Resource Teacher, Career and Technical Education-Brevard County Schools (321) 633 -1000 x 281, sandersj@brevard. k 12. fl. us

Ideas and Innovations Palm Beach County – Adult Education § Incorporating Florida Ready to Work to meet “career services” grant requirements, making applications stronger § Easy to track student participation and progress § Will help meet job placement performance standards § Different from other career training tools, clients responding to relevancy and ease, clients progressing § Try it, before “buy” it – coordinator used Courseware, took Assessments and earned Credential – now sold! Judy Langelier Department of Adult and Community Education-School District of Palm Beach County (561) 688 -5291, langelierj@palmbeach. k 12. fl. us

Reporting Courseware § Progress Report § Placement Test Report § Full Report § Time Report § Activity Report

Reporting Assessments § Instant Score Report § Test Usage Report § Roster Score Report § Data Export Report

Reporting § Monthly Stipend Report – Actual Month, Mailed With Check - By Assessment Center - By Student/Jobseeker Name - Assessment Type (AM, RI, LI), Date and Score - Total # Assessments Delivered, Total Stipend Amount § Monthly Progress Report – Cumulative, Posted On Portal - By Assessment Center – Rollup By Organization - # Students/Jobseekers Enrolled - # Assessments Delivered (AM, RI, LI) - # Credentials Earned (Gold, Silver, Bronze) § Other reporting needs – tell us!

What’s New Courseware Updates § Turning Off Placement Test Lock July 1, 2008 - Previously required to complete all 3 core Placement Tests (AM, LI, RI) before accessing Courseware for any of curriculum areas - Now able to immediately access Placement Test and Courseware for any of 9 curriculum areas and Work Habits § Work Habits Courseware Review and Update Review: July-September 2008 Update: Spring 2009 - If interested in participating, contact local Project Coordinator

What’s New Courseware Updates § Upgrading to Adobe Flash Player August 2008 - Courseware screens will look different, content will not change - Will no longer need to download Authorware and Active X - Flash already on most computers since most websites use it - If do not have Flash, free download (www. adobe. com/shockwave/download. cgi? P 1_Prod_Version=Shockwave. Flash)

What’s New Administrator Tools § Password Look-Up August 2008 - New tool allowing authorized administrators/proctors to look up student/jobseeker passwords - Primary Contact must grant access to administrators/proctors - Access restricted to associated Assessment Center realm § Updated Administrator Guide August 2008 - Online and PDF

What’s New Website and Portal Updates § Employer Partner List – Live now www. floridareadytowork. comEmployer. Partners - Current list of employers who recognize the Credential - Encourage local employers to sign up! § Assessment Center Map – Live now www. floridareadytowork. com - Current list of Assessment Center locations, check your listing! § Portal Update – August 2008 www. myfloridareadytowork. com - More user friendly, more resources

What’s New “Free” Implementation Tools § New E-Newsletter – August 2008 - Program updates, ideas and innovations § New Promotional Materials – August 2008 - Complete Order Form or contact local Project Coordinator § New Video Downloads – August 2008 www. myfloridareadytowork. com - Employer video testimonials - Student/jobseeker video

Local Project Coordinators Contact Us! Toll-Free: 1 -877 -444 -4505 Website: www. floridareadytowork. com Email: www. floridareadytowork. com/contact

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