Information
Who are the FRTW Program partners?
Who is eligible to earn a FRTW Credential?
What career-readiness assessments are required to earn a FRTW Credential?
What are the three levels of the FRTW Credential?
What is the process for earning a FRTW Credential?
Where will the FRTW Credential Program be offered?
How will a FRTW Credential benefit business partners?
How can the FRTW tutorial and assessment tools and resources be accessed?
What is a Florida Ready to Work Credential?
The FRTW Credential is a career-readiness designation that is awarded to Florida job seekers who have successfully passed designated assessments in three key employment areas: Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics, and Locating Information. A job applicant who has earned a FRTW Credential will be better equipped with skills needed to enter the workforce. This FRTW Credential demonstrates that job seekers have skills to meet employment expectations.
Who funds the Florida Ready to Work Credential Program?
In 2006, with the support and the leadership of Representative Pickens and other key legislators, former Governor Bush initiated FS 1004.99. This initiative recognized the needs of the business community for better prepared employees.
This statute defines the FRTW Credential and outlines its operational parameters. The Florida legislature allocated a total of $13,250,000 for program implementation and another $4,000,000 for business outreach activities. It is expected that a continuing allocation to support this program will be funded in the 2007-2008 budget.
Who are the Florida Ready to Work Credential Program partners?
The Program is administered by the Florida Department of Education, Division of Workforce Education, and the Agency for Workforce Innovation. It is promoted locally by the Suncoast Workforce Board with the School Districts of Manatee and Sarasota Counties. This means that there is no cost to students or employers to participate in FRTW! Credential cards are signed by Governor Crist.
The Program assessments and tutorials are provided by Worldwide Interactive Network (WIN) and the nationally recognized ACT® WorkKeys program. WIN provides the online WIN for WorkKeys® pre-assessment and skills training courseware, career database, and other program support. ACT WorkKeys® provides the proctored assessment and career readiness certification.
In addition, the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) has partnered with the Florida Department of Education, Division of Workforce Education, to bring the FRTW Program into Florida K-12 schools statewide.
Who is eligible to earn a Florida Ready to Work Credential?
Any Florida job seeker is eligible to earn this Credential.
What career-readiness assessments are required to earn a Florida Ready to Work Credential?
FRTW cardholders must demonstrate mastery of three (3) WorkKeys assessments:
- Reading for Information
- Applied Mathematics
- Locating Information
Each assessment is scored on a scale from 3 to 7. The higher the score, the greater the participant’s ability to perform more complex skills. Each assessment can be completed in less than one hour. The assessments are offered online but must be proctored and taken at a certified FRTW testing center.
What are the three levels of The Florida Ready to Work Credential?
The three levels of FRTW Credential include:
- BRONZE = minimum score of 3 or more on all three assessments
- SILVER = minimum score of 4 or more on all three assessments
- GOLD = minimum score of 5 or more on all three assessments
What is the process for earning a Florida Ready to Work Credential?
Florida job applicants desiring to earn a FRTW Credential can follow these steps:
- Sign up at a participating assessment center.
- Complete the online pre-instructional assessment to determine mastery level.
- If needed, enroll in self-paced tutorial coursework.
- Complete the proctored WorkKeys assessments at an authorized assessment center.
Once mastery level expectations have been achieved, students will receive a FRTW Credential signed by Governor Crist.
Where will the Florida Ready to Work Credential Program be offered?
The participating sites include:
- Secondary Public Schools
- Community Colleges
- Area Technical Centers
- One-Stop Career Centers
- Vocational Rehabilitation Centers
- Department of Juvenile Justice Programs
- Regional Education Consortium
How will a Florida Ready to Work Credential benefit business partners?
When businesses use the FRTW Credential as part of the recruitment and hiring practices, employers can be more confident that applicants can begin the job with the skills necessary for successful job performance.
How can the FLorida Ready to Work tutorial and assessment tools be accessed?
All FRTW Program tools and resources are easy to access at http://www.myfloridareadytowork.com.
These tools and resources include:
- Online courseware
- Online assessments
- Online Career Center database
- Florida Skills Bank and online access to statewide data
- Alignment of the program to FCAT and several national assessments
For more information, contact info@SuncoastReadyToWork.com.