+

Massachusetts’ Career Readiness InitiativeCheryl Scott

Massachusetts Workforce Investment BoardMassachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

National Fund for Workforce Solutions ConferenceJune 18, 2014 1

MA Career Readiness Initiative Context

Unemployment is most acute and chronic for individuals with the least amount of education and technical skill

1/3 of students entering public higher education require literacy and math remediation (higher at community colleges)

Over 20,000 individuals on wait lists for adult education classes

Lack of alignment across basic skill pathways across systems and resources: multiple assessments, retesting, no correlation to job requirements

2

+ MA Career Readiness InitiativeObjectives: Supplement basic skills delivery

for low-skilled individuals through statewide implementation of ACT Career Ready

Improve work-based skills and job matching

Align and coordinate across basic skills pathways (Adult Education, Workforce Development, and Community Colleges) through shared tools

3

3

+ Massachusetts Model

4

• 100 Learning Labs

• (OSCCs, community colleges, ABE programs)

• Assess and Remediate

• Improve individual’s skill

Career Ready 101

• NCRC+ Testing Sites (OSCC & community colleges)

• Test Literacy, Numeracy, Work Behavior

• Credential

National Career

Readiness Certificate

Plus• Job Analysis• 16 Staff• Analyze

competencies of real job openings (MA and nationwide)Job

Match

4

+ Partners and Resources5

Funders & Key Stakeholders Contribution

Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development• Department of Career Services (OSCCs & WIBs)• Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board

(Steering Committee)

$250k

Community College & Workforce Development Transformation Agenda Grant (TAACCCT grant) $200k

Department of Higher Education $50k

Dept. Elementary and Secondary Education (Adult Education System) $50k

SkillWorks $50k

The Boston Foundation (capacity building grant) $150k

+ CRI Workplan • Steering Committee Formed• Survey and focus groups• Contracting & Procurement

Early Engagement & Procurement

(Oct 2013 – June 2014)

• Career Ready 101 training & staff development (Summer – Fall)• Training & deployment of testing sites (Fall – Winter)• Convene regional user groups, blending learning workshops

Learning Lab & Testing Sites(July 2014 – Oct 2016)

• Employer focus groups• Employer outreach & champion identification• Job profiler training & rollout

Employer Engagement (Oct 2014 – Oct 2016)

• Analyze regional, system, and statewide data trends• Make policy recommendationsOutcomes & Evaluation

(Jan 2015 – Oct. 2016)

• Work Ready communities• Expanding scope (re-entry, school to career)Next Steps

6

+ Results & Outcomes Outcomes/Results to be Measured

Individuals improving skill level through Career Ready 101

Individuals certified work ready (NCRC+) Direct enrollment in post-secondary (no remediation) Individuals who obtain and retain employment Employers using NCRC+ in hiring process Return on Investment (ROI)

Process Measures Across Systems Partners coordinating around common service delivery

and training models (intra- and inter-system) Partners coordinating across stakeholders providing

common certifications (NCRC)

7

+ Contact

Cheryl ScottDirector, MA Workforce Investment Boardcheryl.scott@state.ma.uscareerreadiness@state.ma.us(617) 626-7112

8

8