WORKKEYS AND THE CAREER READINESS CREDENTIAL Maria Phillips

WORKKEYS AND THE CAREER READINESS CREDENTIAL Maria Phillips Judie Bergstresser Becky Stitt Polaris Career Center 7285 Old Oak Blvd. Middleburg Hts. , OH 44130 440 -891 -7600

What is Work Keys? n n n A job skills assessment system measuring “real world” skills that employers believe are critical to job success. Students who use Work. Keys to document their readiness for work have an edge with the growing number of employers nationwide who accept or require that job applicants have Work. Keys scores. Several states aslo have adopted Work. Keys to ensure that workers have needed skills.

Work. Keys as a Common Language: n Employers ● Workforce ● Training ● Economic Development Work. Keys effectively measures aptitude in three key areas that are needed to insure that the workforce can be re-trained to meet the changing skill demands of employers.

Work Keys n Measures skill levels in basic skills: n Reading for Information n n Applied Math n n To solve practical workplace problems Locating Information n n Reading workplace documents Locating, inserting, comparing, or summarizing information in workplace graphics, charts, drawings, spreadsheets, maps, etc. Levels 3 through 7

Career Readiness Certificate Levels Skill Area Bronze Silver Gold Reading for Information 3 4 5 Applied Mathematics 3 4 5 Locating Information 3 4 5

Career Readiness Certificate Levels n n As the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) is based on those three: Gold = 5 -5 -5 for 85% of jobs in the Work. Keys database Silver = 4 -4 -4 for 50% of jobs Bronze = 3 -3 -3 for 30% of jobs,

Starting Wages and the CRC (from the ACT Occupational DB) High school diploma + • Bronze = $16, 000 • Silver = $16 -20, 000 • Gold = Over $20, 000 West Michigan Strategic Alliance 2006

Commonwealth of Virginia Career Readiness Certificate In recognition of demonstrated skills in Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information, & Locating Information NAME is awarded a Silver Certificate 7 th July, 2004 _________ Governor Mark Warner