News

Jasper County (Joplin, Missouri) was first on the national map as ACT's first-ever Work Ready Community in March of 2013. Archive video courtesy of Missouri Governors Office 

Inca Presswood has been using the ACT Workeys for over 6 years at both the Sardis, MS and Dover, Ohio facilities. Workeys has been instrumental in our hiring analysis as well as our existing team members evaluation and development programs.  It has been a trusted and valuable tool for our operations.   Dale R Hart, EVP

The Arkansas Department of Higher Education and the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education issued a statewide recommendation on awarding college credit for the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate. The guidance suggests options for Technical Math or Technical Writing.

Students taking a new course at Southern Union State Community College can earn five certifications in six weeks, as showcased by the Times-News. Along with the WorkKeys NCRC, students earn certicates in OSHA, Forklift Driving, CPR, Financial Literacy, and Computer Literacy.

Career Pathways are a special blend of training and job progression. When the training includes post-secondary learning, the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate from ACT can translate to college credit that jumpstarts the learning journey. Awarding credit through Prior Learning Assessment, or PLA, for short, boosts confidence and increases the pace to program completion. Colleges increase enrollment while helping build the regional talent pipeline. 

The American Council of Education recently upgraded their recommendations on credit hours awarded for the NCRC. Join us on Episode 37 as we explore the benefits of PLA; make connections between WorkKeys levels and post-secondary performance; and examine how administrators and faculty can use WorkKeys Estimator to align their competencies to specific WorkKeys benchmarks.

Referenced in the Work Ready Communities Boot Camp

The U.S. Department of Labor commissioned the Council on Competitiveness to produce an asset mapping roadmap that goes in depth with tips applicable to mapping your ecosystem. 

The Charlotte Gazette newspaper reminded readers of the Work Ready Communities designation for Charlotte County, Virginia. The feature showcased benefits of the WRC and the progress in earning and maintaining the designation. Regional workforce director, Terra Napier, and County Administrator, Daniel Witt, provided background and praise for the initiative.

Mark Twain High School and the Ralls County Board of Education celebrated nine high
school seniors who have excelled on their ACT WorkKeys® tests and earned Platinum
National Career Readiness Certificates.  Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Adria Palmer assisted students to help make sure they are Career and Work Ready. Out of a Senior Class of 57 testers, 92% earned certificates. 

Site Selection Magazine's annual review of employment climate of states with seven regions of the U.S. is out for 2023. The ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate is one of five metrics utlized by the publisher.