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Never Mind the Diploma: Daugaard Wants Workers to Take More Tests

Governor Dennis Daugaard uses his weekly column to promote more standardized tests… for workers!

When a business needs to hire a new employee, there’s a lot to consider. An applicant’s previous jobs, education and the recommendations of others are all part of the equation. These things are important; but when it comes down to it, managers are really just looking for someone who will succeed on the job.

This is where the National Career Readiness Certificate comes in.

This certificate, known as the NCRC, has been used by employers across the nation for nearly 20 years. It consists of three assessments developed by ACT, the college entrance exam company. The assessments measure an individual’s ability in applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information [Governor Dennis Daugaard, press release, 2015.10.30 (that’s the date listed, although it appears not to have been released until November 13)].

This only makes sense: if we’re going to orient our entire K-12 curriculum around preparing kids to take standardized tests, we ought to make sure they can put those testing skills to use as adults, right?

Alas, the Governor’s promotion of this College Board ACT WorkKeys product seems to say that high school diplomas and post-secondary degrees don’t mean jack about workers’ abilities and that we need to give more money to the standardized test industry. The state Department of Labor and Regulation pays to provide and promote the test. Employers making a big deal of the WorkKeys/NCRC pressure applicants to spend money on practice tests. ACT gets rich, workers become bubble-test profiles, and real education falls into greater disregard.

7 Comments

  1. owen reitzel 2015-11-16 08:20

    I have the National Career Readiness Certificate and while it’s nice to have so far it’s done me absolutely no good and I’ve been looking for a job for over a month.
    But so far my 2 year degree that I got in 2014 hasn’t helped me either.

  2. caheidelberger Post author | 2015-11-16 18:13

    Owen! What were the questions like? All multiple choice? Tougher than the ACT?

  3. Roger Cornelius 2015-11-16 19:07

    Owen,

    I understand what you are saying, there are a couple of people I know that are in the same position as you.

  4. caheidelberger Post author | 2015-11-16 19:22

    Roger, Owen, do you know of any employers asking to see this certification?

  5. owen reitzel 2015-11-17 17:15

    The test were over 2 days and they were fairly hard. AS I remember they were multiple choice but not easy-especially math which I’m not good at.
    I’ve had the certificate listed on my resume but I’ve never been asked for it. So I don’t know if it’s done any good or not. I’ve never been asked about at an interview.

    update-I now have a job. I start Thursday and my degree I believe came through for me. :)

  6. caheidelberger Post author | 2015-11-18 16:18

    Hooray for work, Owen!

    But two days sitting for bubble tests? That’s a degradation of our quality of life.

  7. owen reitzel 2015-11-18 16:43

    I don’t know Cory. I figured it couldn’t hurt and at the time I thought it might help. I did this before I decided went back to school.
    But I have to admit I don’t think it really did me any good.

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