The National Work Readiness Credential

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The National Work Readiness Credential
An Overview
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National Work Readiness Credential
Development and Business Partners

• Development Partners Florida, New Jersey, New
  York, Rhode Island, Washington, the District of
  Columbia, and JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement).
• Business Partners National Association of
  Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, U.S.
  Chamber of Commerce.

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The National Work Readiness Credential
To provide a national, portable credential that

• defines,
• measures, and
• certifies

that jobseekers have the knowledge, skills, and
abilities they need to succeed in entry-level
work in the 21st Century workplace.
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The National Work Readiness Credential A start
on the path to success

• Focuses on a cross-industry foundation of
  work-ready skills not specific to an occupation.
• Measures what a person can do and provides a
  foundation for advanced skills development.

Advanced Leadership Skills
Advanced Business Skills
Advanced Interpersonal Skills
Advanced Technical Skills
Basic Work-related Technical Skills
National Work Readiness Credential
Basic Workplace Skills
Basic Workplace Knowledge
Basic Employability Skills
Lifelong Learning Skills
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Timeline

• December 2002 February 2004
• Defined the Equipped for the Future Work
  Readiness Profile.
• March 2004 April 2005
• Identified, developed, and pilot-tested test
  items. Designed credential delivery system.
• May 2005 May 2006
• Field-test assessment.
• Finalize assessment and supporting materials.
• September Early 2007
• Limited launch in approximately 60 locations
  nationally to test delivery system.

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The National Work Readiness Credential
For Adult Education Workforce Development
Systems
A direct link to labor market entry. A common
standard of success means programs focus on
whats important.
Education training programs may not teach the
soft skills that are a requirement for todays
workplace.
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The National Work Readiness Credential

• Focuses on application of knowledge and skills in
  work-appropriate settings.
• Computer-delivered.
• Modular, to make it easy to use
• Total length 2 2 ½ hours.
• Each Module is between 30 45 minutes long

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Assessment Modules Include

• WR-Read with Understanding 30 min.
• WR-Use Math to Solve Problems 30 min.
• WR-Oral Language Test 30 min.
• WR-Situational Judgment Test 45 min.
• Cooperate with Others
• Resolve Conflict and Negotiate
• Observe Critically
• Solve Problems and Make Decisions
• Take Responsibility for Learning

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Math and Reading Test

• Both the Math and Read Tests each cover the
  single skill designated by their respective
  titles.
• Test takers are presented with four response
  options and are asked to choose the one best
  response.

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Situational Judgment Test

• Situational Judgment Test covers the following
  skills
• Observe Critically
• Cooperate with Others
• Resolve Conflict and Negotiate
• Solve Problems and Make Decisions
• Take Responsibility for Learning.

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Situational Judgment Test

• Items consist of brief written scenarios
  describing a situation and a problem that
  requires a decision.
• Each scenario presents 4 options describing
  plausible responses, with some options better
  than others.
• Test takers are asked to pick the best and worse
  response.

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Oral Language Test

• The Oral Language Test covers the skills Speak So
  Others Can Understand and Listen Actively.
• Uses the state-of-the-art Computerized Oral
  Proficiency Instrument (COPI) model to provide a
  valid surrogate for the face-to-face Oral
  Proficiency Interview.
• Consists of a small number of tasks, each
  consisting of audio directions, an accompanying
  graphic, and an audio prompt.

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Oral Language Test

• Test takers are asked to respond orally to the
  prompt and their spoken responses are recorded.
  
• Trained raters evaluate and score recorded
  responses using criteria aligned with the skills
  Listen Actively and Speak So Others Can
  Understand as they are applied to tasks in the
  Work Readiness Profile.

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Current Soft-Launch Site Network
The National Work Readiness Credential

• Connecticut 1
• Kentucky 1
• Indiana 1
• Maine 1
• Massachusetts 2
• Michigan 2
• Minneapolis 1
• North Carolina 1
• Oregon 5
• Ohio 1
• Pennsylvania 1
• Tennessee 2
• Texas 3

• Washington 7
• Florida 4
• Rhode Island 1
• New Jersey 7
• New York 8
• Washington D.C. 7

Total of 56 Sites Approved
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For More Information

• http//www.workreadiness.com
• (National Work Readiness Council)
• http//www.castleworldwide.com
• (Candidate Guide Site Manual)
• http//eff.cls.utk.edu/assessment/arc_library.htm
• (EFF Performance Continua)