When the Capital region’s high school juniors take the
Michigan Merit Exam in March, they’ll find a new component on the test called
Work Keys. The keys will assess if the students have the skills required to manage a job, including math, understanding what they read, and knowing how to find information.
If they do well enough, the students will receive certificates declaring their employability, says Sheila Dunham of the
Ingham Intermediate School District.
Employers are embracing the
National Career Readiness Certificate program now that Michigan’s
Council for Labor and Economic Growth (CLEG) has approved the certificate as the statewide workforce credential. More than 375 employers have signed letters of commitment for the Michigan initiative, Dunham says.
“The certificate offers individuals, employers and educators an easily understood and universally valued credential that certifies the attainment of workplace skills.”
The certificate began as a pilot project in 2007. With the help and leadership of the
Mid-Michigan Innovation Team, the
Prima Civitas Foundation, and Ingham Intermediate School District, Capital region high school seniors received 1,441 certificates in 2007.
Gretchen Cochran, Innovations & Jobs editor, may be reached
here.
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