1. activity
winter 2013
A P U B L I C A T I O N O F A C T
improve yourself
TM

2. [ CEO message ]
The Power of Transformative Change
The past few months have brought transformative change to ACT as we “walk the talk”
of our improve yourself campaign. Across the organization, we are enhancing ACT’s
products and services so that we can continue to make a real difference in the lives of
the millions of students and adults we serve each year.
Blending the best of our traditions with an innovation-first outlook, we are building upon
the vision of our founder, E.F. Lindquist, as we develop our next generation of assessments
to serve the kindergarten-through-career continuum.
By helping individuals use ACT’s information and insights to understand where they are
on their journeys, we can also help them advance their lives through a cycle of improve,
prove, and then improve again.
As we pursue these improvements, we’ve sought input from provocative thought leaders
in education and the workforce. At our annual meeting last fall, Steve Perry, founder and
principal of Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut, and Anthony
Carnevale, director and research professor, Georgetown University Center on Education
and the Workforce, challenged us to think differently about how we approach our work.
A few weeks earlier, ACT had hosted Michael Horn, coauthor of Disrupting Class: How
Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, and Charles Fadel, coauthor
of 21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times. These speakers also encouraged us
to consider and embrace innovative approaches that challenge the status quo.
Heraclitus said, “All is flux, nothing stays still.” So it is at ACT.
We’ll continue to keep you informed about ACT initiatives through both traditional
and social media channels. We hope you will keep an eye on ACT as we transform our
organization to help millions more people achieve education and workplace success.

3. 1WWW.ACT.ORG activity
[ contents ]
features
6 ACT Annual Meeting
8 America’s Recovery
10 ACT Board of Directors
12 ACT Year in Review
16 Get Skills to Work
21 Green Initiatives
24 Spotlight on ACT Clients
8
22
16 14
6
18
departments
———————
2 activity update
———————
4 ACT insights
———————
14 best practices
———————
18 international news
———————
22 success story
———————

4. 2 WINTER 2013activity
[ activity update ]
A New Year, A New ACT
Edward W Walters III,
Vice President, ACT Marketing
and Communications
Calvin Coolidge said the most
common commodity in this country
is unrealized potential. At ACT, we
are taking these words to heart.
We are working to expand the
organization’s reach so that we can help millions more
people realize their potential.
Over the course of the year ahead, ACT will continue to
transform its image from that of a testing company to that
of an insights company. We’ll be supporting and validating
our new image by:
• Building on our 50+ years of data that help inform
education policy, processes, and curriculum
• Providing meaningful information that helps individuals
and organizations unlock their full potential
• Offering insights to assist with critical life decisions
from kindergarten through career
• Delivering a skills credentialing system that matches
job seekers with employers’ needs
This is all part of our improve yourself concept geared
at helping people improve themselves, their schools, their
organizations, and their workplaces. In this issue of activity,
we show you how ACT solutions align with this goal.
ACT annual meeting speakers challenged us to consider
new ways to close the education and workplace gaps (page 6).
A collaborative effort between secondary and postsecondary
schools in Oklahoma connects middle and high school students
to possible STEM careers (page 14).
A new workforce initiative uses the ACT National Career
Readiness CertificateTM
to train military veterans for jobs in
advanced manufacturing (page 16).
International efforts are improving the lives of students and
workers in China and Honduras (page 18).
ACT WorkKeys® helped a Missouri man translate his military
skills to a civilian job (page 22).
You can also learn about thought leadership from the ACT
Office of Strategic Initiatives (page 4), read about recent
successes of our workforce initiatives (page 12), and find out
about ACT’s green culture of sustainability (page 21).
We hope you enjoy learning about the “new” ACT and the
ways we are working to help people improve their lives every
day. How have ACT solutions helped you change direction
and improve your life? Contact us at activity@act.org to
share your successes or provide feedback.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Volume 51, Number 1
ISSN: 0001-7620
activity is published quarterly by ACT, Inc.,
500 ACT Drive, Iowa City, IA 52243-0168.
ACT is an independent, not-for-profit organization
that provides a broad array of assessment,
research, information, and program management
solutions in the areas of education and workforce
development. Each year, ACT serves millions of
people in high schools, colleges, professional
associations, businesses, and government
agencies—nationally and internationally. ACT
offers a wide range of solutions that share one
guiding purpose—to help people achieve
education and workplace success.
activity is a free publication of ACT.
To receive activity in the mail, please sign up on
the activity website at www.act.org/activity or
send your name and address to activity@act.org
or ACT, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243-0168,
Attn: MiniZIP 76.
All content ©2013 by ACT, Inc., and may not be
used, reproduced, or altered in any way without
prior written permission. All rights reserved.
Vice President
Marketing and Communications
Edward W Walters III
Editors
Scott Gomer
Terri Gordy
Editorial Director
Carol Romkey
Art Director
Greg Carrier
Designer
Mike Rasmusson
Copy Editor
Mary Bruce
Photography
Chris Hayes
Don Krueger
Mike Rasmusson
Dylan Salisbury
Production
Chris Hayes
Print Buyer
Neil Schmitz
Distribution
Kathy Kolbo
activityWINTER 2013

6. Fulfilling ACT’s mission of helping
people achieve education and
workforce success demands
more than providing new and
innovative solutions and tools
to help individuals.
It also requires ACT to bring forth fresh ideas and
new innovations to the nation’s education and
workforce systems by informing policy and practice at
the local, state, and national levels.
The ACT Office of Strategic Initiatives, led by
Senior Vice President Ranjit Sidhu, works to
identify new and emerging issues and stimulate
dialogue among the nation’s education and
workforce policymakers and thought leaders.
“ACT has long been a trusted resource of
research-based insights to inform education and
workforce policy and practice,” said Sidhu. “For
our customers and those individuals dedicated
to strengthening our nation’s education and
workforce systems, ACT has a responsibility to
also lead efforts to address the key systemic
issues facing our nation.”
The Office of Strategic Initiatives is responsible
for conducting policy research, advocating for
effective state and federal policies, and
developing key collaborations with education and
workforce development leaders who are critical
to implementing necessary reforms.
Ensuring that research drives policy and best
practices is one of the hallmarks of ACT’s efforts to
improve the education and workforce development
landscapes. ACT is enhancing its policy research
efforts to provide greater support and insights to
practitioners, policymakers, and researchers, creating
a road map for effective reforms.
In addition to informing education and workforce
communities through research, ACT is playing a more
active role in convening fellow education and
workforce leaders. Beginning in spring 2013, ACT
will launch a series of forums to examine key education
and workforce issues facing our nation. These forums
will bring together policymakers, practitioners, and
researchers from the K–12, postsecondary, and
workforce sectors to discuss emerging issues and to
spur action that will strengthen our nation’s education
and workforce systems.
Sparking change also requires highlighting the
successes of current leaders in education and
workforce. ACT has launched an annual College
and Career Readiness Campaign, working with
top state officials to celebrate achievement and
create awareness around the goal of college and
career readiness for all.
The campaign’s two primary components,
celebrating achievement and creating awareness,
include the creation of a new annual awards
program at the state and national levels, and
an opportunity to engage individuals in new
ACT technologies tied to educational and
career planning.
The 2012–2013 campaign will culminate with a
national gala in the spring in Washington, DC, to
highlight state event honorees and to announce
the national winners who demonstrate the most
exemplary achievements, including an employer,
a community college, a high school, and a high
school student, as determined by a national
selection committee.
“The campaign is intended to showcase the
exemplary work that is happening across the country
to advance the goal of college and career readiness
for all,” said Scott Frein, ACT director of federal and
state advocacy, who is directing the campaign. “It also
allows our customers to get a sneak peek at the
innovative, no-cost technologies ACT is developing to
better prepare students for life after high school.”
4 WINTER 2013activity
[ ACT insights ]
ACT’s Office of Strategic Initiatives
Leads Efforts to Improve the Education
and Workforce Landscape
Ranjit Sidhu
Scott Frein

7. 5WWW.ACT.ORG activity
ACT NAMES VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
LaMar Bunts has joined ACT as vice president, international programs, an area that offers education and
workforce services to organizations across the globe.
He will lead the development of an international strategy focusing on dynamic growth opportunities as
ACT implements its recently announced kindergarten-through-career product offerings. Bunts and his
team will work with all divisions of the company to provide solutions to individuals and organizations
outside the United States.
Most recently, Bunts was chief financial officer at Dell Computer End User Services Field Services unit, where he
was in charge of finance and strategy for the outsourcing startup. He also led business development in Latin America. Prior to
Dell, Bunts helped develop international business opportunities at Silicon Graphics and ITM Software.
ACT CEO Jon Whitmore said, “LaMar’s experience at Dell and other technology firms, as well as his deep knowledge and
expertise leading initiatives outside the United States, will be key to the strategic growth of ACT globally.”
ACT FOUNDATION LAUNCHES WITH APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ACT recently named Parminder Jassal as the first executive director of the ACT Foundation, which
serves to improve underserved students’ success in education and the workplace.
The ACT Board of Directors formed and funded the foundation in fall 2009 on the occasion of
ACT’s 50th anniversary.
As part of ACT CEO Jon Whitmore’s leadership team, Jassal will create, build, and implement the
foundation’s strategic vision. Her duties also include managing the organization’s staff, budget, and
resources, and cultivating innovative, strategic relationships.
The foundation will solicit proposals for efforts aligned with its mission and strategic priorities. It initially intends to fund
efforts that focus on supporting education and workplace success in the United States. In the future, the foundation will
have a broader reach, supporting global innovations in the same areas.
The initial grant focus will be specific to discovering innovative next-generation practices that simultaneously build credential
assets and career benefits for unsuccessful student populations. Credential assets are assets that describe what a person
has learned and demonstrated, such as certificates, certifications, degrees, badges, diplomas, continuing education units,
awards, proficiency data, and test scores. Career benefits can come in the form of higher pay, increased responsibilities,
better benefits, or targeted support to help employees develop their skill sets.
Jassal previously served as a program officer supporting postsecondary success for low-income young adults at the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She has demonstrated expertise in using innovation to create transformative change.
“With the appointment of Parminder, our foundation moves from the organizational phase to an operational status,” said
Whitmore. “We are excited to welcome a founding executive director with a strong field presence and a proven track record.”

8. Steve Perry challenged ACT at the
organization’s annual meeting:
build a smarter test or risk
becoming like a compass in a
world of GPS.
Perry, founder and principal of Capital Preparatory
Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut, is on a
mission to transform the nation’s schools into places
that provide meaningful educational experiences for all
students. Since its inception in 2004, Capital Prep,
which is located in Hartford’s lowest-performing
district, has sent 100 percent of its graduates to
four-year colleges.
“If our objective is to ensure that more children go to
college, then we have to look at what the barriers to
college are,” said Perry. “I suggest ACT create a test or
a portion of a test that proves over a certain period of
time that a child can learn. If you continue to measure
what children should know when you already know
what they don’t know, you will continue to get the
same results.”
As the meeting’s keynote speaker, Perry spoke
candidly to ACT staff and guests about his experiences
6 WINTER 2013activity

9. as a poor kid who grew up thinking he wasn’t smart.
He now holds a doctorate degree, has written five
books, and works with
black and Latino
students, many of
whom think they aren’t
smart either.
“The conversation
we often have around
intelligence is about
who is smart and who
isn’t smart,” said Perry.
“Educators talk about
the impact of poverty
and parenting on a
child’s ability to learn,
and your test [the ACT®
Test] has made it clear
that in the United States,
75 percent of the
children are not prepared for college. Does that mean
that 75 percent of parents are bad, poor, or unwilling
to push their children?”
There was a time in America when students from
certain zip codes were considered to be smarter than
others, he said. Alternative schools and programs are
now proving that some poor and disadvantaged
children, when placed in academic environments
where expectations are high, can succeed.
“This conversation around intelligence is so
important because what ACT does in so many ways
seems to speak to intelligence. When someone does
well on the ACT, we say that person is smart. But ACT
needs to educate children as to what intelligence is
and what it isn’t,” he said. “What we want to know is—
can they learn?
“ACT can create a smarter test that would better
prepare students for college. ACT does great work,
and you have a phenomenal mission. I would like
you to push yourselves closer to fulfilling the mission
you’ve set out to do.”
7WWW.ACT.ORG activity
“What if you (ACT) created a test that measured what students
can learn?” Steve Perry, ACT annual meeting speaker
Members of the New Century Saxophone Quartet entertain during lunch at the
ACT annual meeting. They played music, of course, but also took things a step
further by creatively sharing how their quartet is similar to a corporation. The
only ensemble of its kind to ever win First Prize of the Concert Artists Guild
Competition, the quartet has made seven recordings and has performed at the
White House, and in many other settings.
ACT CEO Jon Whitmore opens the
annual meeting with a speech about the
power of ACT to create real change for
people of all ages and backgrounds.
< Steve Perry, founder and principal of Capital Preparatory Magnet School in
Hartford, Connecticut, helps children who are growing up much like he did.
ACT annual meeting team members and guests interact during the
annual meeting.
www.act.org/about-us/annual-report/

10. 8 WINTER 2013activity
The United States needs a “jolt”
to get the economy back on track.
“We have a catch-22 situation,” said Anthony
Carnevale, director and research professor,
Georgetown University Center on Education and the
Workforce. “We don’t have workers to attract high-
skill, high-wage industries, and we don’t have
high-skill, high-wage industries giving workers
incentive to obtain the skills they need. We’re stuck,
and the only way we can fix this is to have some sort
of a jolt.”
ACT leaders and annual meeting panelists
discussed what the “jolt” might entail and how ACT
could help. They responded to remarks Carnevale
made in a video interview.
“We need to unlock the collective power between
the education and the employer sectors,” said
Parminder Jassal, executive director, ACT Foundation.
“These sectors have been operating in isolation.
We need to link them, so we can provide effective
information that helps people plan their future.”
Steve Kappler, ACT assistant vice president, college
and career readiness, said ACT’s commitment to
measuring multiple dimensions of readiness—
achievements, behaviors, and goals as part of the
organization’s new kindergarten-through-career
continuum—can help people align their interests with
intended college majors or career aspirations. “The
insights behind these dimensions of readiness will
help people create their own individual success paths,”
he said.

11. 9WWW.ACT.ORG activity
Higher education needs to realign its programs and
delivery systems to meet the needs of today’s college
student, who is increasingly an adult with a job and a
family. Many of the nation’s colleges are set up for
sequential learning, but as Kappler pointed out,
“Students today are in and out of postsecondary
education and the workforce, and are taking many
years to earn a degree.”
Instead of the old model of an individual graduating
from high school, going to college, graduating,
and then entering the job market, postsecondary
institutions have to change how they serve today’s
students.
Melissa Murer Corrigan, interim head, ACT
workforce development, said ACT can help prepare
individuals for constant career shifts with certification
programs. “The more linkages we can provide
between education and what people are going to do in
the future, the more quickly we can get people into jobs.”
Working together with other organizations needs
to be part of the jolt, she said. For example, ACT is
partnering with the Manufacturing Institute (MI) to
help individuals gain skills certifications so they can
successfully compete in the twenty-first century
economy. In less than a year, MI and its affiliates
issued nearly 85,000 certifications—including the
ACT National Career Readiness Certificate—to
students and workers.
“When we talk about low-skill workers and
high-skill jobs, we must also talk about collaborations
to get people on the right paths,” said Murer Corrigan.
Carnevale said technology is automating tasks
that are repetitive, meaning that workers must now
compete for positions with nonrepetitive tasks that
require education or training beyond high school.
The supply of postsecondary talent is increasing
by about one percent a year, and the demand for
talent is increasing about three percent a year.
“Our nation is in chaos,” said Jassal. “There are
voids in our economy, education system, higher
education, and workplace. As a public trust, ACT
can fill these voids with strong and unified leadership,
creative solutions, and a sense of urgency.”
< An ACT panel of experts responds to comments made by Anthony Carnevale,
director and research professor, Georgetown University Center on Education
and the Workforce. From left are Melissa Murer Corrigan, Steve Kappler, and
Parminder Jassal.
For the first time in ACT history, all ACT team members were invited to attend the ACT annual meeting: Improve the World, Improve Yourself. Nearly 800 team members
attended the event in person, while the website providing live-stream coverage recorded nearly 500 viewings.

12. ACT has added two new members
to the Board of Directors and
designated three existing directors
as officers of the board.
The two new directors are:
• Walter G. Bumphus, PhD, president and CEO
of the American Association of Community
Colleges (AACC)
• Chad P. Wick, founder and director of the
KnowledgeWorks Foundation
The new board officers are:
• Chairman of the Board: Carl A. Cohn, professor and
codirector, Urban School Leadership at Claremont
Graduate University in Claremont, California. He has
been an ACT board member since 2006, and
replaces Mark Musick, who will remain on the board.
• Vice Chairman: Dixie Axley, vice president (retired) of
learning and development, State Farm Insurance
Companies. She has served on the board since 2006.
• Secretary: Vivien Stewart, senior advisor for
Education, Asia Society in New York City. She joined
the board in 2011.
Walter G. Bumphus
Since January 2011, Bumphus has
served at AACC, which is the primary
advocacy organization for more than
1,100 two-year, associate’s degree–
granting institutions serving more than
13 million students. AACC is headquartered in
Washington, DC.
Prior to assuming his leadership role at AACC,
Bumphus served as a professor in the Community
College Leadership Program and as chair of the
department of educational administration at The
University of Texas in Austin. He previously served as
president of the Louisiana Community and Technical
College System and chancellor of Baton Rouge
Community College.
Bumphus holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees
from Murray State University and a doctorate in higher
education administration from the Community College
Leadership Program at The University of Texas in
Austin. He is a much sought-after speaker and adviser
and has consulted with more than 85 community
colleges and universities in the United States, Canada,
and Puerto Rico.
Chad P. Wick
As founder and director of the
KnowledgeWorks Foundation
headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wick
and his team work to bring the future of
learning to America’s high schools and
create widespread, lasting change in the communities
and states they serve. In Ohio, Wick led the
development of the Ohio College Access Network
which assists the college aspirations of more than
165,000 students each year, directs the concept of
turning urban neighborhood schools into Community
Learning Centers, and redesigns many low performing
urban high schools. Nationally, Wick led the creation
of the National College Access Network and the New
Tech Network, a group of nearly 130 high schools in
23 states.
He has worked to achieve equity and respect for
diversity inside and outside the education arena,
including achieving constitutional changes to support
low-income housing. The recipient of many awards
and accolades, Wick continues to drive initiatives that
will help effectively prepare students for college, work,
and citizenship.
A veteran of the United States Air Force, Wick has
received honorary doctorates of humane letters from
both the University of Cincinnati and Youngstown State
University. Prior to founding KnowledgeWorks, he
served as president and chief executive officer of RISE
Learning Solutions, president of Mayerson Company,
and as a banking industry executive.
10 WINTER 2013activity
ACT Expands Board of Directors
and Names New Officers

13. 11WWW.ACT.ORG activity
Belle S. Wheelan
Director
Chad P. Wick
Director
Roberts T. Jones
Director Emeritus
J. Theodore Sanders
Director Emeritus
Jon Whitmore
CEO
Joseph A. Aguerrebere
Director
Dixie L. Axley
Vice Chairman
Robert M. Berdahl
Director
James E. Bostic, Jr.
Director
Sarita E. Brown
Director
Walter G. Bumphus
Director
Carl A. Cohn
Chairman
D. Robert Graham
Director
Karen A. Holbrook
Director
Mark D. Musick
Director
Charles B. Reed
Director
Richard W. Riley
Director
Thomas G. Rotherham
Director
Vivien Stewart
Secretary
ACT BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2012–13
www.act.org/about-us/our-story/leadership/board/

14. ACT Year in Review
12 WINTER 2013activity
ACT launched Tomorrow’s Workforce
Now, an initiative that will conclude
in 2013, offering ACT WorkKeys
assessments and the ACT National
Career Readiness Certificate Plus
(NCRC Plus) at no cost to thousands
of participating employers and
workers. Regional and community
organizations—primarily community
colleges—convened groups of
employers not actively using the
NCRC Plus.
Participating employers will test up
to 20 individuals with four WorkKeys
assessments: Locating Information,
Reading for Information, Applied
Mathematics, and Talent. They also
will complete WorkKeys Supervisor
Surveys for each person tested.
These organizations became active
in the initiative in 2012:
BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Virginia
DAN RIVER REGION COLLABORATIVE
Virginia
EDGECOMBE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
North Carolina
FAYETTEVILLE TECHNICAL
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
North Carolina
GASTON COLLEGE
North Carolina
MACOMB COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Michigan
MICHIGAN WORKS BATTLE CREEK
Michigan
SPARTANBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE
South Carolina
Nearly 500 workforce
professionals and
80 presenters
participated in
Workforce 2012:
ACT’s National
Workforce
Development
Conference in
Chicago. Three
keynote speakers
reinforced the need
to get young people
on the right path to
success early and for
America’s leaders to
help ensure there are
enough good jobs
for every worker.
Interest in Right Skills Now grew as more employers,
educators, and job seekers learned about this
fast-track, for-credit career training program aimed
at getting work-ready talent to employers faster.
Participants earned college credit and national
industry certifications, including the ACT National
Career Readiness Certificate (NCRCTM
), preparing
them for immediate employment in manufacturing.
The program combines classroom training with
internships and is aligned with the NAM-Endorsed
Manufacturing Skills Certification System.
Participants reported these early successes:
2012 January February March April May June
From new research reports to new education
and workforce initiatives to a company-wide
brand campaign, 2012 was a busy year for
ACT. Here we take a look back at some of
the highlights.
DUNWOODY COLLEGE
OF TECHNOLOGY
Minneapolis, Minnesota
18 completed the program.
16 had internships: 14 were
hired by the company
where they interned; 2
continued their education.
SOUTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
Mankato and Faribault,
Minnesota, campuses
37 completed the program.
29 had internships and were
hired by the company where
they interned; 8 continued
their education.
TRUCKEE MEADOWS
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Reno, Nevada
64 applied to the program;
20 were selected to
participate. 28 earned
NCRCs.
WESTERN NEVADA
COLLEGE
Carson City, Nevada
37 received NCRCs.
18 completed the program,
15 of whom were hired by
the company where they
interned.

15. 13WWW.ACT.ORG activity
ACT announced a brand
campaign focused on
the tagline “improve
yourself.” The goal is for
ACT to move from being
known as a testing
company to becoming
a company that provides
insights that help
individuals unlock their
full potential. This plan
covers the continuum
from kindergarten
through career, helping
people achieve greater
success throughout
their lifetime.
ACT announced ACT
Aspire, the first digital,
longitudinal assessment
system to fully connect
student performance from
elementary grades
through high school.
Launching in 2014, ACT
Aspire will provide
educators, parents, and
students with the insights
they need to help
students get and stay on
track for college and
career readiness by better
connecting assessment to
teaching and learning.
The first round of
participants completed
the ACT Certified Work
Ready Communities
(CWRC) Academy, a
12-month executive
training program that
guides groups through
a successful start-up and
deployment of a statewide
initiative based on the
NCRC. Missouri, South
Carolina, Oregon, and
Kentucky have all
launched CWRC
programs in their states.
The next round of
participants—the states
of Utah and Wyoming,
and the Dan River Region
Collaborative in southern
Virginia—will complete
the academy in July 2013.
ACT expects to announce
a third round of
participants this winter.
A record 690 admissions
and enrollment managers
from 304 colleges and
universities across the
United States, Canada,
and Puerto Rico
attended ACT’s annual
Enrollment Planners
Conference in Chicago.
ACT introduced new
research, the ACT
Enrollment Management
Trends Report, which
provides college
administrators with
insights about the more
than 1.6 million 2011
high school graduates
who took the ACT Test.
2013July August September October November December

16. An Oklahoma summer academy
program is providing a life-changing
college and career experience for
middle and high school students
across the state.
It’s also helping increase the percentage of
Oklahoma students who meet ACT College Readiness
Benchmarks in mathematics and science. And it’s
introducing them to science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM) careers, which are projected
to be in high demand in the coming decade.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
(OSRHE) funds the summer academies through grants
to participating in-state colleges and universities.
While open to all Oklahoma students, the academies
are geared toward those who may be first-generation
college students and those who may show potential
in the STEM fields.
Since 1990, nearly 20,000 students have
experienced campus life while exploring career options
in STEM. Students stay on campus for the one- or
two-week academies, which combine classroom
learning with hands-on experience. A total of
33 academies on 21 campuses will serve about
1,000 students in summer 2013.
14 WINTER 2013activity

17. “The academies help students figure out what they
could be when they grow up,” said Cindy Brown,
director of the summer academies, and director,
student preparation for OSRHE. “They build in
students a sense of accomplishment in mathematics
and science.”
The summer academies have also played a role
in improving Oklahoma students’ scores on ACT
Explore®
and ACT Plan®
, both of which OSRHE has
funded since 1993 on a voluntary basis for all
Oklahoma public and private schools. Over the past
five years, the percentage of state’s students meeting
the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks has
increased from 32 percent to 37 percent for
mathematics and from 24 percent to 26 percent
for science.
In addition, the academies are achieving one of their
main purposes: increased interest in STEM careers.
OSRHE research shows that Oklahoma students who
have indicated an interest in math or science through
ACT Explore are significantly more likely to complete a
math or science degree than those who don’t indicate
that interest.
“We know from national data that students who
have an academic goal early are more likely to focus
on academic preparation for college. This makes
the State Regents’ investment in these summer
academies even more important to the future of our
state and our students,” said Brown.
15WWW.ACT.ORG activity
[ best practices ]
“I’ve seen firsthand how the summer academies have changed
some students’ lives and given them a whole new view of what
their futures could entail.” Jeannie Huggins, science teacher, Tulsa, Oklahoma
SUMMER ACADEMY OUTCOMES
A close look at the data for Oklahoma summer academy
participants and their future Oklahoma collegiate
experience indicates that:
• They are about twice as likely to declare a science,
engineering, or math major than all Oklahoma college
students.
• They are better prepared when they arrive at college
as evidenced by a remediation rate about one third
that of the state average. Remediation means students
must take developmental classes before tackling
credit-bearing college courses.
• More than 80 percent attend an Oklahoma college or
university immediately after high school graduation,
compared to 58 percent of the state’s total high school
graduates.
• More than 80 percent earn at least a bachelor’s
degree at an Oklahoma college or university,
compared to about 50 percent of the state’s total high
school graduates.
Students participating in a summer academy in Oklahoma collect samples
along a stream for testing in a college laboratory. The summer academies
provide middle and high school students with hands-on learning experiences
in math, science, and related disciplines.
www.okhighered.org/summer-academies

18. 16 WINTER 2013activity

19. The ACT National Career
Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is
part of a new coalition’s initiative
to train 100,000 military veterans
for jobs in advanced
manufacturing by 2015.
The Get Skills to Work coalition, which includes the
Manufacturing Institute (MI), GE, Boeing, Lockheed
Martin, Alcoa, and other members, is using Right Skills
Now to prepare veterans for immediate employment in
manufacturing jobs and to give them a foundation for
advancement in higher education and careers.
Participants in Right Skills Now programs can earn
college credit and national industry certifications,
including the NCRC, in as little as 16 weeks.
Right Skills Now is a for-credit career credentialing
program aimed at helping employers find the highly
skilled, work-ready workers they need. ACT is
partnering with the President’s Council on Jobs and
Competitiveness, MI, and the National Institute of
Metalworking Skills on Right Skills Now programs in
several states.
An estimated 600,000 high-tech manufacturing jobs
remain open in the United States, and more than
82 percent of manufacturers report they cannot find
people to fill their skilled production jobs. One million
veterans are expected to leave the armed forces over
the next four years and transition to civilian careers.
Initial investments from GE, Alcoa, Boeing, and
Lockheed Martin will help 15,000 veterans translate
military experience to corresponding advanced
manufacturing opportunities and gain the technical
skills they need to qualify for careers in this growing
sector. These four companies currently employ
approximately 64,000 United States military veterans.
“Get Skills to Work provides manufacturers the
opportunity to grow their own future talent here at
home, while also honoring our returning veterans
with fast-track, effective job training programs that
will help them transition into the civilian workforce,”
said Jon Whitmore, ACT chief executive officer.
“The leadership shown by these industry captains
is just the kind of roll-up-your-sleeves effort America
needs to get our economy back on track.”
17WWW.ACT.ORG activity
www.getskillstowork.org
“The Get Skills to Work coalition is an ideal adaptation of
Right Skills Now geared to veterans, a segment of our
workforce we absolutely must support.” Jon Whitmore, ACT
HOW IT WORKS
The Get Skills to Work coalition helps military veterans:
• Assess and translate military skills to those needed
in civilian roles.
• Qualify for a Military Manufacturing Badge, which
translates military jobs to civilian positions in
advanced manufacturing. Veterans will also
receive help building professional profiles and
relevant skills.
• Identify skill gaps, locate a Right Skills Now program
at community and technical colleges, take courses
and earn industry-recognized certifications, and
apply for apprenticeships/internships or jobs.
• Start a new career in advanced manufacturing and
continue to add credentials for advancement.
Manufacturers with openings for skilled workers can:
• Become a member of the Get Skills to
Work coalition.
• Share best practices with the Institute for
Veterans and Military Families, a coalition
partner organization.
• Search for veteran applicants on the
US Manufacturing Pipeline website.
• Participate in a local Right Skills Now training
and hiring program.
• Interview and hire skilled workers who have
proven credentials.

20. 18 WINTER 2013activity

21. 19WWW.ACT.ORG activity
[ international news ]
An international nonprofit
organization is using ACT
solutions in Honduras to increase
the quality of the country’s
workforce to meet employer
demands for higher skill levels.
Over the next two years, Education Development
Center, Inc. (EDC) will test up to 15,000 individuals in
Honduras with the Spanish-language version of ACT
WorkKeys assessments and expects to award the
ACT International Career Readiness CertificateTM
(ICRC) to at least 11,000 of them.
EDC is targeting people ages 16 to 29, who are
considered at risk. This includes students about to
graduate from high school, high school graduates who
cannot pass college admission exams or who are
working at entry-level jobs, and those who have not
completed high school.
Each year in Honduras nearly 100,000 students
(58 percent) do not complete ninth grade, and
125,000 (75 percent) do not finish high school.
Sixty-seven percent of the population in Honduras
is younger than 29 years old.
“We are helping young people who have limited
access to education and training opportunities improve
their foundational skills and demonstrate those skills to
postsecondary institutions and employers,” said Ana
Carolina Rubi, workforce development specialist, EDC.
EDC supervises administration of ACT WorkKeys
assessments in Honduras’ three largest cities—
Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and nearby
municipalities, and La Ceiba—and expects to
expand to other regions. The organization is focusing
on areas that have high violence incidence rates, as
young people living in such areas are often exposed to
gangs and other criminal activity, said Gustavo Payan,
project director, EDC.
“We want to reach out to them with training and
certification. We have found that every successful
intervention with at-risk youth helps build their
self-confidence and empowers them to become
productive citizens,” he said.
The organization currently operates 38 test centers
and plans to open approximately 30 more over the
next two years. The United States Agency for
International Development is sponsoring the project.
EDC officials are promoting the value of WorkKeys
and the ICRC to Honduran employers in major sectors,
such as textiles, tourism, and construction. “Like other
areas of the world, Honduras is experiencing a gap
between the skills workers have and the skills
employers are requiring. Employers want workers
whose skills have been certified,” said Payan.
EDC is also partnering with higher education
institutions to bridge the gap between education
and workforce. Every year, thousands of students
fail to pass admission exams required for university
entrance. EDC is using Spanish-language ACT
KeyTrain®
curricula to help students improve their skills,
which is leading to considerable increases in admission
exam scores. KeyTrain, an interactive learning tool,
helps students master the applied workplace skills
defined by WorkKeys.
“The ACT tools are helping Hondurans improve
their skills and gain access to higher education and
employment,” said Payan.
www.actinternationalservices.com/en/certificate/
WHAT IS EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER?
Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit organization that
designs, delivers, and evaluates innovative programs to address some of the
world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic opportunity.
Headquartered in the United States, EDC conducts 250 projects in
23 countries around the world.

22. ACT has entered into a strategic
alliance with ATA, Inc., to address
key education and workforce
development needs in the
greater China market. ATA is
the leading privately held testing
and assessment services provider
in China.
The agreement, announced at a signing ceremony
in Beijing, enables ACT and ATA to engage in research
and market development activities that leverage ACT’s
assessment experience and ATA’s knowledge of the
unique characteristics of the China market, including
Hong Kong and Macau.
“We are excited to enter into this strategic alliance
with ATA to better serve the market,” said Jon
Whitmore, ACT chief executive officer. “Our
companies’ areas of expertise are highly
complementary and synergistic. Having a local
associate adds value to our future strategic market
development. With this alliance, we are aiming to
provide better services to students, educators,
employers, and other stakeholders in China.”
“It’s a great pleasure to form a strategic alliance with
an authoritative testing and assessment body from the
United States like ACT,” said Walter Wang, president
of ATA. “ATA is a leading provider of computer-based
testing and assessment services in China with rich
experience in serving the local market. Working with
ACT will promote the development of local education
and talent markets.”
WHAT IS ATA?
ATA offers comprehensive services for the creation and
delivery of computer-based tests based on its proprietary
testing technologies and test delivery platform. ATA’s
computer-based testing services are used for
professional licensure and certification tests in various
industries, including information technology services,
banking, teaching, securities, insurance, and accounting.
20 WINTER 2013activity
ACT CEO Jon Whitmore (left) and ATA President Walter Wang shake hands after
signing an agreement to form a strategic alliance.

23. 21WWW.ACT.ORG activity
ACT is adopting a green
culture that goes far beyond
recycling, shutting off lights,
and providing team members
with reusable mugs.
As our corporate sustainability statement states:
“ACT cares about the environment, the community,
and our people. ACT is committed to reducing the
impacts of our operations on the environment,
positively influencing the communities in which we
operate, and promoting the health and wellness of our
team members and stakeholders.”
“Our team members spend many hours a day at
work, and we want to provide them with a safe and
healthy environment both inside and outside our
buildings,” said Deb Smilski, ACT assistant vice
president of central services. “At the same time, our
goal is to encourage integration of these sustainability
practices into their personal lives.”
ACT has taken
many steps
toward meeting
our sustainability
goals:
• Built a data
center that was
the first in the
United States
to receive
Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum
certification. The LEED program is a voluntary
rating system for energy efficient buildings overseen
by the US Green Building Council, a 501 (c)(3)
nonprofit organization committed to a prosperous
and sustainable future for our nation through
cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. In
the near future, ACT plans to renovate other facilities
using LEED criteria.
• Installed solar-powered electric car-charging
stations, becoming one of 26 Iowa organizations
nationally registered by the US Department of
Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center Station
Locator website as a free stop for those who drive
electric cars.
• Incorporated sustainability practices into a courtyard
renovation project, including a water-efficient
irrigation system, which runs when moisture sensors
sense there is not enough water in the ground. The
irrigation system is controlled through a computer
system that is monitored daily. The project also
includes indigenous plants, water features that utilize
recirculating pumps and runoff water, and LED
lighting.
• Developed an interactive “Energy Consumption”
dashboard that illustrates our buildings’ use of
electricity, water, and gas. Team members can view
the “EC Dashboard” in the ACT dining center.
• Received a Certificate of Achievement from
Audubon International for environmental planning on
ACT’s 340-acre campus in Iowa City.
• Established a green team—a group of team
members who promote and support green initiatives
within their departments. Bright Green Strategy, a
sustainable business consulting firm, is leading the
green team’s efforts.
Added Smilski, “As our sustainability efforts evolve,
we are continuing to help our team members
understand the importance of green living and the
impact our choices have on the environment.
Sustainability is a lifestyle that we hope all ACT team
members will embrace.”
www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/stations/
ACT Leads the Way on “Green” Culture
ACT’s Primary Data Center was the first data center
in the United States to earn LEED certification.

24. 22 WINTER 2013activity

25. Kevin Reaves needed a way to take
the skills he learned in the military
and translate them to a civilian job.
Taking the ACT WorkKeys assessments and
receiving an ACT National Career Readiness Certificate
(NCRC) has helped him do just that.
“It was exciting to find out the level of my skills, how
they apply to civilian jobs, and that they are the skills
employers seek in employees,” said Reaves.
“I definitely recommend that veterans looking for civilian
jobs earn an NCRC credential. It will benefit you.”
The silver-level certificate Reaves earned got his
foot in the door at Able Manufacturing and Assembly
in Joplin, Missouri, where he assembles cabs for
specialty vehicles, such as those used in the
construction, mining, and agriculture industries. Able
is a full-service supplier for major original equipment
manufacturers, including Kawasaki, Caterpillar, Case
New Holland, and Siemens Corporation.
Reaves knew if he wanted a good job with one of
the best employers in the Joplin area he’d need an
NCRC credential. “It’s pretty well known in this area
that some of the most reputable employers—the
companies everyone wants to work for—require or
request an NCRC credential,” he said.
Susan Adams, director of human resources at
Able, can attest to that point. “The Joplin business
community has truly embraced the NCRC credential.
The word is out that an applicant’s resume or
application will get quick attention if it has this
credential attached to it.”
Since 2008, Able has used the certificate as a tool
for evaluating applicants at the company’s two plants
in Joplin and a third plant in Pittsburg, Kansas. “We
prefer applicants who have the NCRC credential, but
we don’t require it,” said Adams. “However, it’s unusual
for us to see applicants who don’t have it.”
Reaves is one of 23 military veterans Able has hired
since 2010 under the Missouri Show-Me Heroes
program, which connects veterans to jobs when they
return home from active service. He served as an
avionics technician in the US Navy.
“Able has always encouraged military veterans to
apply for positions at our company because we know
many of them have the skills we require,” said Adams.
“We encourage them to earn an NCRC credential to
demonstrate to us how those skills can be used in
our jobs.”
23WWW.ACT.ORG activity
[ success story ]
More than 2,400 Missouri employers
have joined Governor Jay Nixon’s
Show-Me Heroes program, leading to
the hiring of more than 3,600 Missouri
veterans. The program asks Missouri
employers to recognize the sacrifices
made by returning veterans by pledging
to interview veterans first for job
openings. Governor Nixon presented Able
Manufacturing and Assembly a “Flag of
Freedom” award for the company’s
participation in the program.
“The ACT WorkKeys assessments were a real eye-opener.
They showed me what I’m capable of doing.”
Kevin Reaves, Able Manufacturing and Assembly
www.act.org/solutions/career-success/assessments/
< Kevin Reaves’ NCRC helped him snag a job with a top employer.

26. 24 WINTER 2013activity
NORDSTROM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FULFILLS COLLEGE DREAM
Mirna Ponce received a scholarship from Nordstrom in 1994.
She earned a BA in comparative literature from the University of
California, Berkeley, and an MPH in epidemiology and an MA in
Latin American Studies, both from UCLA. She is an epidemiology
analyst with the county of Los Angeles. Ponce plans to pursue a
PhD in epidemiology and to contribute research that influences
policies for healthier communities. “My family couldn’t afford to send me to college. The
Nordstrom scholarship helped me realize my lifelong dream of attending college. It
greatly alleviated the stress of paying for college and made it possible for me to go to
graduate school.”
Amount of scholarship: $10,000 over four years; $2,500 per year
Application period: January 30, 2013 to May 1, 2013 (applications);
May 16, 2013 to May 31, 2013 (recommendations)
Basic eligibility requirements:
High school junior who:
• Lives and attends school in one of the participating 31 states
where Nordstrom has a full-line store. Check the links below for
store locations.
• Has at least a 2.7 grade point average throughout high school.
• Volunteers or participates in community services or
extracurricular activities.
www.act.org/nordstrom; http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/nordstrom-cares-scholarship
KOHL’S CARES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HONORS VOLUNTEER SERVICE
Matthew Ferguson was a Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program 2012
national winner. He is a freshman at Northern Arizona University,
pursuing a double major in business management and economics.
At age 14, Ferguson developed a program called “Matt’s Chemo
Bags” after helping his mom through breast cancer. The program is
now a nonprofit organization that raises funds to purchase personal care
items for bags, which are given to cancer patients. “The Kohl’s scholarship helped pay for
my first year of college, and also earned recognition for my organization from Nickelodeon
and the TeenNick HALO award. My future plans include owning a business that helps
people and growing Matt’s Chemo Bags into a nationwide community service project.”
Amount of scholarship: $1,000 and $10,000
Application period: February 1, 2013 to March 15, 2013
Basic eligibility requirements:
• Legal resident of the United States (except Hawaii), between
the ages of 6 and 18 as of March 15, 2013, and not yet a
high school graduate.
• Nominated by someone age 21 years or older.
• Winners are chosen based on the benefits and outcomes of
their volunteer service.
www.act.org/kohls
DELL SCHOLARS PROGRAM OPENS DOORS TO A BETTER LIFE
Angelica Tello was named a Dell Scholar in 2005. She
graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a major in
psychology. She plans to earn a master’s degree or PhD in
counseling or psychology and help children and families who
are going through difficult situations to achieve their goals. “The
Dell Scholars Program scholarship impacted my life in many ways. It
allowed me to pursue my dreams for my career and also broadened my educational
experience with a study abroad program in Mexico, which provided the basis for my
senior year research project. Plus, it reduced the financial pressures on my mother
and influenced my younger siblings to go after their dreams as well.”
Amount of scholarship: $20,000
Application period: November 1, 2013 to January 15, 2014
Basic eligibility requirements:
• US citizen or permanent resident graduating from an accredited
high school this year, earning a minimum of a 2.4 grade point
average, and participating in a Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
approved college readiness program for a minimum of two of
the last three years.
• Scholars are chosen based on demonstrated desire and ability
to overcome barriers and to achieve goals, as well as
demonstrated need for financial assistance.
www.dellscholars.org
Spotlight on ACT Clients

27. ACT AspireTM
is a newly designed summative assessment and classroom-based
formative system
n Empirically linked to ACT College Readiness Benchmarks and aligned to
Common Core State Standards so you can determine if students are on track
for college and career readiness
n Provides integrated longitudinal assessment data for student growth modeling
and reporting
n Helps pinpoint what students know and are able to do, informing planning
and intervention
n Is anchored by the ACT®
Test as the system capstone for college readiness
n Uses multiple question types, including technology-enhanced questions,
to better assess student knowledge, improve test experiences, and provide
more meaningful insights
n Will launch in 2014 with the ability to administer via computer or a
pencil-and-paper option
Learn more at www.act.org/aspire
improve yourselfTM
Connecting student performance from
elementary grades through high school
Launching
in
2014!

28. Nonprofit Org
US Postage
P A I D
ACT
500 ACT Drive
P.O. Box 168
Iowa City, Iowa 52243-0168
Rev 1
© 2013 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved. 18651
*07000113W*
Coming in Spring 2013:
Defining Work Readiness Standards for the K-Career Continuum
Watch for two new research reports from ACT that focus on strengthening
America’s workforce and global competitiveness.