The Kansas WORKReady! Certificate

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• Consistently identify the right applicants

that can do the job!

• Increase their new-hire success rate

• Shorten on-the-job training time

• Reduce employee turnover

• Decrease production costs

What Employers Want?

• An assessment system developed by ACT

• Measures basic transferable, work-place skills

• Skills are communicated to businesses using

the Kansas WORKReady! Certificate

• 42 other states have the certificates

What is WorkKeys®?

““In the 1950’s, ACT created a nationally recognized, standardized resource for

college entrance. Now, we’re doing the same thing for the workforce.”

- Richard L. Ferguson, CEO and Chairman of ACT

WorkKeys® Assessments

Three Assessments:

• Applied Mathematics

• Locating Information

• Reading for Information

Goal with WorkKeys®

1. To create a nationally-recognized SYSTEM

for the assessment and improvement of work-related skills that is

EQUALLY MEANINGFUL for employers,

educators and job seekers.

2. To create a Certified Workforce

EMPLOYERS

HIGH

SCHOOLS

COMMUNITY-BASED

ORGANIZATIONS

COMMUNITY-BASED

ORGANIZATIONS

ADULTADULT

EDUCATION

PRISONSS

TECHPREP

ONE STOPCENTERS

4-YEAR COLLEGES

COMMUNITY

COLLEGES

CUSTOMIZEDTRAINING

WWELFARE-E-

TO-WORK

CAREER ACADEMIES

Education and

Training Delivery

System

WorkKeys® Assessments

Three Assessments:

• Applied Mathematics (3-7)

• Locating Information (3-6)

• Reading for Information (3-7)

What are the levels needed for jobs profiled by WorkKeys®?

WorkKeys® LevelJob Title Math (3-7) Loc Info (3-6) Read Info (3-6)

Refrigeration Tech. 4 4 4Registered Nurse 4 4 5Accountant 6 5 5

WorkKeys® Applied Math Level 5 = ACT Score 18-21

WorkKeys® Reading Score Level 5 = ACT Score 19-23

WorkKeys®

What are the levels needed for jobs profiled by WorkKeys®?

Percentage of Jobs Work Skill 30% 70% 90%Applied Mathematics 3 4 5

(Range 3 – 7)

Reading for Information 3 4 5(Range 3 – 7)

Locating Information 3 4 5(Range 3 – 6)

WorkKeys®

WorkKeys® Sample QuestionsLevel 3 – Locating Information

You regularly check the pressure gauge on a large tank. According to the gauge shown, what is the current pressure (in PSI)?

    A.  30

  B. 35

  C. 40

  D. 45

E. 100

WorkKeys® Sample QuestionsLevel 3 – Applied Math

In your job as a cashier, a customer gives you a $20 bill to pay customer gives you a $20 bill to pay for a can of coffee that costs $3.84. How much change should for a can of coffee that costs $3.84. How much change should you give back?you give back?

A. $15.26 B. $16.16 C. $16.26 D. $16.84 E. $17.16

WorkKeys® Sample QuestionsLevel 3 – Reading for Information

Logan City Mall has hired a new garbage collection company. Speedy Sanitation, Inc. will be collecting garbage from all businesses starting next Monday. Collection days will not change. The pick-up time will be one hour later. Each business will be given one blue garbage can to use. Each business may ask for 2 extra garbage cans. You may have a total of 3 garbage cans. You will not need yellow collection tags anymore. Full garbage cans must weigh less than 30 pounds. Put your garbage in bags before putting it in the garbage cans. Put your garbage cans in the alley behind your business's back door.

Based on the memo shown, starting next Monday, what is the greatest number of garbage cans each business is allowed to have?

  A. 1   B. 2   C. 3 D. 15

WorkKeys® Sample QuestionsLevel 6: Locating Information

WorkKeys® Sample QuestionsLevel 7 Applied Mathematics

The farm where you just started working has a vertical cylindrical oil tank that is 2.5 feet across on the inside. The depth of the oil in the tank is 2 feet. If 1 cubic foot of space holds 7.48 gallons, about how many gallons of oil are left in the tank?

A.   37

B.   59

C.   73

D. 230

E. 294

Work Skill WorkKeys® ScoresApplied Mathematics 3 4 5 6

(Range 3 – 7)

Reading for Information 3 4 5 6(Range 3 – 7)

Locating Information 3 4 5 6(Range 3 – 6)

WORKReady! Certificate: Bronze Silver Gold Platinum

Skills can be communicated to businesses using the Kansas WORKReady! Certificate

Kansas WORKReady! Certificate

Benefits to Students

• Allows students to prove their skills to employers

• Distinguishes themselves from other job candidates seeking the same positions

• Connects students to jobs that fit their skills and interests

• Adds an additional credential to their Diploma and Degree

• Allows students to determine skill gaps

Some Companies Using WORKReady!

• Owens Corning

• Clorox

• KU Medical Center

• KCP&L

• Harley Davidson

• Dow Chemical

• Energizer

• Northrop Grumman

• Cessna

• Crossland Construction Company

• Pitt Plastics

• Great Bend Industries

• Jupiter Ks. Inc

• Johns Manville

• Nex-Tech Aerospace

• Berry Plastics

• Kansas Board of Regents

• Kansas P-20 Education Council

• Kansas Council Chamber Executives

• Kansas Economic Development Alliance

• Kansas Department of Commerce

• KC Metropolitan Health Council

• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)ers (NAM)

A Few Organizations that have Endorsed WorkKeys®

Mike Beene

State Operations Director

Kansas Dept of Commerce, Workforce Services

mbeene@kansascommerce.com

620.704.5091

kansascommerce.com

kansasworks.com