The Kansas WORKReady Certificate Powered by What Employers

The Kansas WORKReady! Certificate Powered by

What Employers Want? • 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 is Work. Keys®? • 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

“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

Work. Keys® Assessments Three Assessments: • Applied Mathematics • Locating Information • Reading for Information

Goal with Work. Keys® 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

Education and Training Delivery System EMPLOYERS HIGH ONE STOP CENTERS SCHOOLS CAREER ADULT ACADEMIES EDUCATION COMMUNITY 4 -YEAR COLLEGES CUSTOMIZED WELFAREE- TRAINING TO-WORK TECH PREP PRISONS S COMMUNITYBASED ORGANIZATIONS

Work. Keys® Assessments Three Assessments: • Applied Mathematics (3 -7) • Locating Information (3 -6) • Reading for Information (3 -7)

Work. Keys® What are the levels needed for jobs profiled by Work. Keys®? Job Title Refrigeration Tech. Registered Nurse Accountant Work. Keys® Level Math (3 -7) Loc Info (3 -6) Read Info (3 -6) 4 4 4 5 6 5 Work. Keys® Applied Math Level 5 = ACT Score 18 -21 Work. Keys® Reading Score Level 5 = ACT Score 19 -23

Work. Keys® What are the levels needed for jobs profiled by Work. Keys®? Work Skill Applied Mathematics Percentage of Jobs 30% 70% 90% 3 4 5 (Range 3 – 7) Reading for Information 3 4 5 (Range 3 – 7) Locating Information (Range 3 – 6) 3 4 5

Work. Keys® Sample Questions Level 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

Work. Keys® Sample Questions Level 3 – Applied Math In your job as a cashier, a customer gives you a $20 bill to pay for a can of coffee that costs $3. 84. How much change should you give back? A. $15. 26 B. $16. 16 C. $16. 26 D. $16. 84 E. $17. 16

Work. Keys® Sample Questions Level 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

Work. Keys® Sample Questions Level 6: Locating Information

Work. Keys® Sample Questions Level 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. B. C. D. E. 37 59 73 230 294

Kansas WORKReady! Certificate Work Skill Work. Keys® Scores Applied 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

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

A Few Organizations that have Endorsed Work. Keys® • 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)

Mike Beene State Operations Director Kansas Dept of Commerce, Workforce Services mbeene@kansascommerce. com 620. 704. 5091 kansascommerce. com kansasworks. com