News


Manhattan Ranks as a Top Metro, Kansas Wins Governors Cup from Site Selection March 09, 2023

Good things are happening in Manhattan, Kansas! The Greater Manhattan region and State of Kansas have been recognized for economic development activity by Site Selection magazine. The magazine’s annual rankings of new and expanded facility projects are considered “the industry scoreboard” by corporate real estate analysts.

ACT Certified its First Work Ready Community Ten Years Ago this Week March 07, 2023

Jasper County (Joplin, Missouri) was first on the national map as ACT's first-ever Work Ready Community in March of 2013. Archive video courtesy of Missouri Governors Office 

Inca Presswood Shares Employer Success with WorkKeys March 06, 2023

Inca Presswood has been using the ACT Workeys for over 6 years at both the Sardis, MS and Dover, Ohio facilities. Workeys has been instrumental in our hiring analysis as well as our existing team members evaluation and development programs.  It has been a trusted and valuable tool for our operations.   Dale R Hart, EVP

Arkansas Customizes Statewide Recommendation to Award College Credit for NCRC March 01, 2023

The Arkansas Department of Higher Education and the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education issued a statewide recommendation on awarding college credit for the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate. The guidance suggests options for Technical Math or Technical Writing.

Career Transformation Course Integrates WorkKeys Among Five Credentials February 27, 2023

Students taking a new course at Southern Union State Community College can earn five certifications in six weeks, as showcased by the Times-News. Along with the WorkKeys NCRC, students earn certicates in OSHA, Forklift Driving, CPR, Financial Literacy, and Computer Literacy.

Podcast: Boosting Career Pathways with College Credit through the WorkKeys NCRC February 15, 2023

Career Pathways are a special blend of training and job progression. When the training includes post-secondary learning, the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate from ACT can translate to college credit that jumpstarts the learning journey. Awarding credit through Prior Learning Assessment, or PLA, for short, boosts confidence and increases the pace to program completion. Colleges increase enrollment while helping build the regional talent pipeline. 

The American Council of Education recently upgraded their recommendations on credit hours awarded for the NCRC. Join us on Episode 37 as we explore the benefits of PLA; make connections between WorkKeys levels and post-secondary performance; and examine how administrators and faculty can use WorkKeys Estimator to align their competencies to specific WorkKeys benchmarks.

Recovery and Resiliency Toolkit January 27, 2023

Referenced in the Work Ready Communities Boot Camp

Asset Mapping Roadmap Helps WRCs to Map Markets, Assets, and Personas January 27, 2023

The U.S. Department of Labor commissioned the Council on Competitiveness to produce an asset mapping roadmap that goes in depth with tips applicable to mapping your ecosystem. 

Charlotte Gazette Probes WRC's Effectiveness January 27, 2023

The Charlotte Gazette newspaper reminded readers of the Work Ready Communities designation for Charlotte County, Virginia. The feature showcased benefits of the WRC and the progress in earning and maintaining the designation. Regional workforce director, Terra Napier, and County Administrator, Daniel Witt, provided background and praise for the initiative.

Ralls County School Board Celebrates Platinum NCRC Earners at Mark Twain High School January 18, 2023

Mark Twain High School and the Ralls County Board of Education celebrated nine high
school seniors who have excelled on their ACT WorkKeys® tests and earned Platinum
National Career Readiness Certificates.  Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Adria Palmer assisted students to help make sure they are Career and Work Ready. Out of a Senior Class of 57 testers, 92% earned certificates.