In 2023, Polk County began the process for ACT Work Ready Communities certification and in April 2024, Polk County achieved this goal and certification.
An ACT Work Ready Communities certification is a designation given to a community by the ACT organization, signifying that a significant portion of its workforce has earned the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), demonstrating a high level of
foundational skills like applied math, workplace documents, and graphic literacy through results from all three assessments, considered essential for most jobs across industries; essentially, it indicates a community has a skilled workforce ready for employment opportunities. Students that complete all three assessments can earn a bronze, silver, gold or platinum certification level.
Cossatot River School District, Mena School District, and Ouachita River School District collaborated with community and career partners from area business, industry, agencies and organizations to identify levels of commitment in process from the industry-recognized National Career Readiness Certifications (NCRC). Area high school counselors, school staff and faculty, and school administrators contacted area community partners and conducted presentations to facilitate partnerships in the certification process.
Levels of commitment were identified from the following:
Employers recognize the ACT WorkKeys NCRC when applicants present one
Employers recommend the NCRC for applicants and/or existing employees
Employers require the NCRC for applicants and your company has completed a job profile
In February 2024, Talk Business and Politics article referenced Site Selection magazine, a key publication for the economic development industry, ranked Arkansas No. 1 in the South Central Region for workforce development - the region includes Alabama, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
Our school districts would like to extend our gratitude to all of the community partners for your support and recognition of the NCRC and achievement of the ACT Work Ready Communities Certification for Polk County!
Left to Right:
Apryl Philpot- Oden High School
Jill Hunter- Cossatot River High School
Tim Walston- Cossatot River Elementary School
Shannon Lyle- Mena High School
Ashlynn Watts- Mena High School
Tammy Young- Acorn High School