The Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation (CiTi) Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) is helping bridge the gap between education and workforce readiness in Oswego County through the successful implementation of ACT® WorkKeys® and the National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®).

 

Serving nine school districts across Oswego County, CiTi supports students who often face significant barriers, including transportation challenges, poverty, trauma exposure and limited postsecondary opportunities. With fewer than 60 percent of graduates pursuing college—and many returning home within a year—CiTi has prioritized career readiness as a critical pathway to success.

 

That commitment is producing measurable results. Every CiTi student who participated in the ACT WorkKeys assessments earned a National Career Readiness Certificate, an achievement that underscores both student resilience and instructional effectiveness. To date, students have earned 14 Platinum, 19 Gold, 45 Silver and 46 Bronze NCRCs, with 56 percent of seniors earning a credential recognized nationwide by employers.

 

In New York State, the WorkKeys NCRC may be applied toward the Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Pathway, allowing students to replace one required Regents exam for graduation. For many CiTi learners, this policy has opened doors that were previously out of reach.

 

“The WorkKeys NCRC gives our students a credential that carries real weight,” said Julie Landy, Ed.D., Director of Assessment, Professional Growth and Community Services at CiTi BOCES. “It’s not just a test — it’s proof of employability that the state recognizes.”

 

Partnerships with local and regional employers have further strengthened the impact. Major Oswego County employers, including Huhtamaki, a global packaging manufacturer, now use WorkKeys as part of their hiring and screening process, with additional industry partners moving in the same direction.

 

“We have companies telling us that if a student holds a WorkKeys NCRC, they can skip the initial screening interview,” Landy said. “That level of recognition is a powerful motivator for our students.”

 

The results are already transforming lives. Graduates of the Oswego County Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program who earned Platinum-level NCRCs have secured positions at Novelis directly out of high school, with starting salaries ranging from $80,000 to $90,000 annually. Additional initiatives include monthly mentorship programs connecting students with industry professionals and regular employer-educator meetings focused on workforce profiling, skill alignment and career advancement opportunities tied to NCRC levels.

 

With ACT WorkKeys, CiTi is building a clear and sustainable pipeline from classroom to career—one that connects students to opportunity and supports the long-term economic vitality of Oswego County.

 

Photo Caption: Oswego County Workforce Development and CiTi BOCES celebrate Oswego County’s status as the first ACT Work-Ready Community in the Northeast in December of 2024.