Kentucky Adult EducationCouncil on Postsecondary

Education

Adult and Continuing Education Programs

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Employer MessageEmployer Message

Today's employers are sending the message Today's employers are sending the message that they cannot find qualified applicants for that they cannot find qualified applicants for many of their job openings, citing reasons many of their job openings, citing reasons such as poor reading, writing, math and basic such as poor reading, writing, math and basic employment skills.employment skills.

A U.S. Department of Education report echoes A U.S. Department of Education report echoes the finding, indicating that 7 out of 10 the finding, indicating that 7 out of 10 students graduate from high school without students graduate from high school without completing the courses they need to succeed completing the courses they need to succeed in college or the workplace.in college or the workplace.

Source: Educated work force essential to state's economic prosperity Source: Educated work force essential to state's economic prosperity

12/19/2005 12/19/2005 Lexington Herald LeaderLexington Herald Leader

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All services are tax supported and provided at “no charge”. Your tax dollars being re-invested in your business.

• GED Preparation

• Basic Academic Skills Instruction

• Family Literacy Programs

• Online Learning at www.KYVAE.org • Skill Assessments and Related Instruction, and

Kentucky Adult Education (KYAE) Services

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Kentucky Adult Education (KYAE)Services (cont)

•Workplace Essential Skills Instruction

For both Pre-hire Applicants and Incumbent Employees with job-specific customized work situations in subjects of:

~Math ~Writing

~Communication ~Reading

~Teambuilding ~Problem Solving

~Critical Thinking

~Introduction to Computers

~Workplace English as a Second Language

~Pre-Technical Skills (pre-SPC, pre-LEAN, pre-Blueprint Reading)

Kentucky Adult Education (KYAE)Services (cont)

• Competency-Based Certifications:

• Kentucky Manufacturing Skills Standards (KMSS). Targeted instruction to certify students for the KMSS assessment based on the academic, employability and occupational skills identified by the Associated Industry of Kentucky as necessary for employment in manufacturing sector.

• Kentucky Employability Certificate (KEC), based on the WorkKeys system. Provides targeted instruction to prepare students to take the KEC ACT WorkKeys assessments. The attainment of a minimum score qualifies a student for the KEC which is a standardized credential that validates reading, math and locating information skills for specific occupations applicable to all businesses and industries.

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The The Kentucky Kentucky

Employability Employability CertificateCertificate

Based on WorkKeys Based on WorkKeys SystemSystem

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ACT’s WorkKeys

What is WorkKeys?What is WorkKeys?

• What ACT is to the college community, Act's What ACT is to the college community, Act's WorkKeys is to the Business community.WorkKeys is to the Business community.

• Standard system used in the business community Standard system used in the business community created by ACT.created by ACT.

• Allows business to have a common language Allows business to have a common language regarding workplace skills through job profiling, regarding workplace skills through job profiling, skills assessment, and instructional support.skills assessment, and instructional support.

• Compares the skills of workers with the skills Compares the skills of workers with the skills required by the job.required by the job.

• ACT’s Occupational Profile Database http://www.act.org/workkeys/profiles/

occup.html

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The Kentucky Employability Certificate (KEC)

What is the KEC?

Created to: Provide skill-based credentials to

Kentuckians.

Provide employers with employees that have documented skills proficiency.

Create a pool of certified applicants that employers can hire with confidence.

Common metric

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KEC – Based on the WorkKeys System

The Kentucky Employability Certificate is The Kentucky Employability Certificate is based on three WorkKeys skill areas:based on three WorkKeys skill areas:

Reading for Reading for

InformationInformation

Applied MathematicsApplied Mathematics

Locating InformationLocating Information

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Reading for Information

Measures a person’s skill in reading and using work-related information including:

Instructions Policies Memos Bulletins Manuals Governmental Regulations

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Applied Mathematics

Measures a person’s skill in using mathematical reasoning to solve work-related problems:

Calculating percentages, discounts and mark-ups

Performing multiple mathematical operations

Calculate perimeters and areas of basic shapes

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Locating Information

Measures a person’s skill in using workplace graphics such as:

Diagrams Floor plans Tables Charts Graphs Forms

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How does an individual How does an individual earn the KEC?earn the KEC?

Targeted Instruction

Score • Level

4• Level

5

Targeted Instruction

Receive Certificate

Yes

Re-take Assessments As Needed

No

Take Assessment in Three Skill

Areas of Math, Reading and

Locating Information

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4

4

4

5

55

Skill Area

Applied Mathematics

Locating Information

Reading for Information

50% of jobs

80% of jobs

Silver

Gold

KEC Skill Levels

KEC

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Vision for KEC

Employers recognize the KEC as a meaningful credential and have “confidence” in the skills that credential holders possess

Citizens recognize the value of the KEC in terms of making them more employable and documenting their skills to employers

Public agencies develop a “pool” of certified workers

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KEC Endorsements (partial listing)

Council on Post Secondary Education Kentucky Adult Education Kentucky Education Cabinet Kentucky Community and Technical College

System Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Kentucky Society for Human Resource

Management Kentucky Workforce Investment Board Kentucky Industrial Development Council

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Resources Available

• Kentucky Adult Education will provide 100% funding to Adult education eligible students for KEC associated costs of assessments, scoring, targeted instruction and KEC certificate fees.

• Tax supported services - available at “no charge” to your business.

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•Call toll free:1-800-928-7323 and ask for your area’s Kentucky Adult Education Associate for Workforce Education.

•For workforce training and grant opportunity information, visit our website at: http://KYAE.KY.Gov

More Information and individual Appointments: