Counting Career Readiness

More states are counting career readiness than in 2014, according to this year’s update of Making Career Readiness Count.

A partnership between Achieve and Advance CTE (formerly the National Association of State Directors of CTE Consortium), this publication explores how states are using career readiness indicators. Thirty-four states publicly report and/or include career-ready indicators in their accountability systems, up from 29 states in 2014.

According to the brief, public-facing report cards and similar tools most typically include data on CTE participation (11 states) and concentrator/completer status (8 states). In addition, five states report WorkKeys/Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) results, while four states report attainment of industry credentials. Four states report placement beyond two- and four-year college enrollment, such as employment, military service and other training.

In accountability systems, states are most likely to include measures of dual enrollment (14 states) and industry certification attainment (11 states). Seven states include data on the completion of a program of study or pathway, and five states factor in performance on workplace readiness exams.

Challenges in accessing and validating career readiness data are addressed in the brief, and several states are profiled for their innovative use of career-ready measures: Louisiana, Connecticut, Ohio and South Carolina.