How WorkKeys and KeyTrain Help Meet a School's Challenges
WorkKeys provides a common, objective language for discussing workplace skills. For example, a level 4 in Applied Mathematics means the same thing to a business as it does to schools throughout the country. These skills levels have also been correlated to the skills required for specific professions and to many state educational standards. Using this system, teachers, and counselors can help students evaluate their priorities and their goals relative to where their current skill levels are and help them to gain the skill required for high-skilled, high-wage careers.

KeyTrain and WorkKeys can assist in successfully implementing a School-to-Work and Tech-Prep programs:

• WorkKeys establishes a framework for evaluating and comparing the skills of a student to a specific job or career.
• WorkKeys assesses the basic skills of students, and KeyTrain helps to close identified skills gaps.
• Occupational profiles help expose students to a broad array of career opportunities, and facilitate the selection of career paths, based on individual interests, goals, strengths, and abilities.
• Occupational profiles provide a method for comparing skills assessments to the skills required for real-world jobs.
• KeyTrain offers performance-based education and training.
• KeyTrain provides a convenient forum for allowing students to improve their workplace skills.
• KeyTrain provides an opportunity for establishing skill goals and preparing minorities and women for non-traditional careers. For example, opportunities to develop skill in the Applied Technology area are often unavailable to these groups. The KeyTrain Applied Technology curriculum provides a clear, understandable discussion of how systems work, developing the practical skill needed for more technical careers.
• KeyTrain's Teamwork and Observation curricula build skill in workplace competencies such as attitudes, employability and participation.
• WorkKeys provides portable credentials, recognized nationwide.
• KeyTrain and WorkKeys provide a system for linking training to local job needs.
• WorkKeys and KeyTrain allow schools to help students transition, identify and navigate to careers.
• WorkKeys and KeyTrain build partnerships with business, community and schools.

In these ways, the WorkKeys system and the KeyTrain curriculum can help schools meet the challenges of preparing students for high-skill, high-wage careers using a system developed through rigorous research.