In Mississippi, 57% of job vacancies through 2022 will be middle-skill jobs, but only an estimated 50% of the state's workers will be trained to fill these jobs. The ACT WorkKeys assessment is the primary credentialing tool for high school students entering the middle-skill labor force. The problem addressed in this study is while Mississippi uses…

The Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) rewards students who strive to excel in high school and continue their education in degree and certificate programs in Alaska. This report covers the high school, postsecondary, Alaska residency, and workforce outcomes of the APS program between Fall 2011-2023. [This report was prepared by Resource Data,…

This study sought to estimate the potential benefits of using ACT® WorkKeys® Curriculum to improve foundational workplace skills and subsequent performance on the ACT® WorkKeys® Applied Math, Workplace Documents, and Graphic Literacy assessments. Students at Nevada State High School (NSHS) took the WorkKeys Assessments before and after using ACT…

This study highlights the importance of clear communication in fostering career readiness. Students exhibit higher motivation on achievement tests when they understand the value of an assessment and are able to familiarize themselves with the exam prior to testing. Increased communication regarding the work requirements of local employers can…

College and career readiness is a concern in both business and education arenas. Employers are calling for entry-level employees with basic academic skills and educators are being held accountable for student achievement in similar academic areas. In this environment, WorkKeys has emerged as a set of assessments that could respond to the needs of…