Michigan House nixes workforce-readiness test in 11th grade
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan school districts would no longer be required to administer a workforce-readiness test to 11th-graders as part of the state's standardized assessment under a bill advancing in the Legislature.
The Republican-led House approved the measure 85-24 Thursday and sent it to the Senate for further consideration.
The ACT WorkKeys assessment was touted as a way for employers to find prospective workers, but critics say it has not met expectations. Few employers refer to WorkKeys or a career-readiness certificate in job postings.
Supporters of the bill say the WorkKeys test is unnecessary, duplicative and costly. Opponents say if utilized appropriately, the test still has a place and nixing it would further tilt testing to only measure college readiness at the expense of kids not going to college.