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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Beffort

DATE TYPED 3/8/2005 HB

SHORT TITLE Workplace Readiness Certification Study

SB SJM 60

ANALYST Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

Minimal

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Office of Workforce Training and Development (OWTD)

NM Public Education Department (NMPED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 60 requests that the State Workforce Development Board appoint a task

force comprised of representatives of the state’s workforce support agencies, the Regional Work-

force Development Board, public school and higher education workforce training providers and

the state’s business community. The task force, working through the governor’s office of work-

force training and development, would study the feasibility of establishing a workplace readiness

certification program in the public schools, One-stop Centers and community colleges. The task

force would review similar programs in other states, assessment instruments and funding re-

quirements, and submit the study to key employer groups, training providers and workforce

agencies to solicit recommendations. The final report would be submitted to the appropriate in-

terim legislative committee by November 1, 2005.

Significant Issues

The Public Education Department (PED) has developed and made available Career Readiness

Standards with Benchmarks for use in the public schools. These standards are intended to be

incorporated into pubic school programs in order to insure that students graduate with the needed

Senate Joint Memorial 60 -- Page 2

job preparedness skills required by employers. As with all standards with benchmarks, it is ex-

pected that school curricula will be aligned with these standards.

The Kentucky Department of Education administers the Kentucky Occupational Skills Standards

Assessment (KOSSA) in 18 occupational areas based on a set of standards that were developed

in concert with, and endorsed by, Kentucky employers. The assessment contains both multiple-

choice questions and scenarios focusing on the occupational area of the student’s career major.

Students must receive a 70% score on each component in order to receive certification. Al-

though the assessment is voluntary for individual students, career-technical education programs

receiving funding from the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act must par-

ticipate in the assessment program to be recognized as a valid program to receive that funding.

The student receives a certification upon successful completion of the assessment.

The Louisiana Department of Education offers 21 industry-based certifications that serve as tan-

gible evidence that an individual has successfully demonstrated skill competencies in a specific

set of work-related tasks, single occupational area or cluster of related occupational areas.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The successful implementation of a workforce readiness certification program in the public

schools in the future may require funding to develop and/or purchase an assessment instrument

and to administer the assessment.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Reference to the director of the state workforce development board should be changed to read

chairperson.

BD/yr