ACT

Did you ever wonder what rolling up your sleeves and getting after making a real positive difference in people's lives looks like...Right here is a a story for you. Persistence DOES payoff. There are more than 500 active ACT Certified Work Ready Communities, but only ONE in the entire Northeast. Congratulations to so many folks from Oswego! Thank you for being the trailblazer in our area! Who's next New York? Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation (CiTi BOCES) ACT

Come check us out at 18th GEAR UP West Conference. Join our session on Tuesday the 28th at 10:30MT and/or schedule a 1:1 with me! I’d love to connect - via #Whova event app

Join us online as we dig deeper into what we have been discussing at our in-person College and Career Readiness Workshops. Presenters include ACT experts and educators nationwide who will highlight their success stories and offer best practices you can emulate at your school. Event schedule and topics: - 11/6 Monitoring Student Growth: Creating a Comprehensive Assessment System - 11/7 Looking at Curriculum: Using Your Data in the Classroom - 11/12 Best Practices in Preparation: Tools for Accelerating Student Growth - 11/13 How Do You Support All Students for College and Career? Learn How from a School Counselor of the Year - 11/14 Planning for the Future: Student Choices and Postsecondary Success - 11/19 National College and Career Readiness Workshop - 11/20 The Practical Application of Social Emotional Skills Register for one or all: https://bit.ly/47xaFK2 If you can’t make a live event, be sure to register to watch the webinar on demand. #K12 #CollegeReadiness #CareerReadiness #Education #PostsecondarySuccess

Every year, ACT provides key data on high school student performance, delivering insights to guide future student success in college and career pathways. Today, ACT released its annual report on the high school Class of 2024 ¾ students who were freshmen during the first full year of COVID-19 learning disruptions ¾that highlights a record-high 78% of graduates participating in ACT school-day testing programs. Roughly 1.4 million high school seniors took the ACT test, which is comparable to last year’s total. These programs, which offer free testing to students during the school day, help eliminate financial and access barriers, helping students better understand their opportunities for success after high school—whether in higher education or entering the workforce. “When students are able to test during the school day at no cost to them, it opens doors to postsecondary, scholarship, and career opportunities for many students who didn’t know that college could be an option. These states, districts, and schools are removing barriers and helping ensure students remain steadfast on their paths from high school to college and career — and are helping strengthen their communities in the process,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. ACT also unveiled new data showing that 58% of high school students who completed the ACT WorkKeys assessment between 2022 and 2024 earned a National Career Readiness Certificate at the Silver level or above. This achievement reflects their proficiency in key foundational skills required for a wide range of jobs in the U.S. Read the press release and explore the data here: https://lnkd.in/eNigVYaq #HigherEd #ACTTest #StandardizedTest #CollegeAccess #CollegeReadiness #Workforce

Meet Jennifer Bui, an ACT Scholar and first-generation Kirkwood Community College student on a journey to becoming a nurse practitioner. Inspired by her parents’ sacrifice and humble beginnings, she is set to graduate this spring with an Associate Degree in Nursing before pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at University of Iowa. “My parents supported me, but my aunt inspired me and showed me that college is possible,” Jennifer says. “Seeing my aunt go to college and go through her own journey and the hardships she faced but persevered through inspired me at a young age, making me want to go to college and be a first-generation college student.” Read more about Jennifer’s passion for nursing and commitment to helping those in need and how it exemplifies the spirit of the ACT Scholar program: https://lnkd.in/eX2FgfYV

ICYMI: At the Jobs for the Future (JFF) Conference in July, ACT Chief Equity & Impact Officer Tina Gridiron joined Jeff Selingo on the Future U. Podcast for an important discussion on the future of #SkillsBasedHiring and how employers and #HigherEd are working together to strengthen the workforce and ensure students have the skills they need to succeed. https://lnkd.in/ehFQZAYs

Today, ACT Workforce Summit attendees celebrated Manufacturing Day, a day to show students, families, and the public what modern manufacturing is all about. This annual celebration allows manufacturers to inspire the next generation, positively shift perceptions about the industry, and build the foundation for the manufacturing workforce of the future. It also empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive. Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC)’s co-founder and CEO Neil Reddy joined the ACT Workforce Summit today and spoke about the importance of manufacturing, the challenges manufacturers face, and the great programs offered to veterans, opportunity youth, women, and re-entry populations. #ManufacturingDay #ACTWorkforceSummit #Manufacturing #Workforce #FutureOfWork #WorkforceDevelopment

Another thoughtful day at #ACT2024WorkforceSummit around using #ACTWorkKeys products and services to help meet customers where they are and accomplish goals together. I’ve had the privilege to participate in some insightful conversations today. Bridget Feagler Matthew Spindler Pat Leonard Anna Bilyeu Fred R McConnel ACT

Thrilled to have attended the 2024 ACT Workforce Summit in Atlanta and Chad Chancellor being the keynote speaker! It’s been an incredible experience connecting with forward-thinking leaders and champions of workforce development. The discussions on collaborative approaches and strategies to enhance our workforce were inspiring. Together, we can drive meaningful change and promote economic success in our communities. Thank you to everyone who shared their insights and experiences. Looking forward to continuing these conversations and making a lasting impact! #ACTWorkforceSummit #WorkforceDevelopment #EconomicSuccess #Networking

I had a terrific time presenting on creating economic opportunity for all at ACT National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, today with Jamie Merisotis, President Lumina Foundation, @John N. Friedman, Professor Brown University and co-director of Opportunity Insights, and Janet Godwin, CEO ACT. The upshot of the session was that progress is possible, continued vigilance is needed on equitable access to high-value credentials and quality jobs, and human skills will be essential to labor market opportunity in the future. I want to give special thanks to Tina Gridiron, Chief Equity and Impact Officer at ACT, for setting up such an excellent discussion.