A Comparison of ACT WorkKeys Performance of Young Adults Who Are Completers and Non-Completers of a Career and Technical Pathway

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the performance on the ACT WorkKeys assessment of young adults who participated in a career tech educational pathway and young adults who did not participate in a career tech educational pathway. In this study, there were two groups: Career Tech completers and Non-Career Tech pathway completers. Gender, race, and socio-economic status were also examined in regard to performance on the ACT WorkKeys. The ACT WorkKeys assessment grades participants on career ready skills and provides certificates based on performance. Certificates range from Platinum, Gold, Silver, to Bronze. The data for this study was previously collected which allowed a comparison between the two groups. The data was retrieved from a southeast Alabama high school. The school had approximately 620 students in grades 9–12 and reported approximately 79% of its students received free or reduced lunch. Once the data was compiled, the researcher was able to answer if there was a difference in performance on an evidence-based national career ready test of young adults who completed a career tech pathway from the young adults who did not complete a career tech pathway. Gender, race, and socio-economic status was reviewed to determine if there was any relationship between demographics and ACT WorkKeys scores. Data revealed there was a significant relationship between race and performance on the ACT WorkKeys. There was also a significant relationship between socio-economic status and performance on the ACT WorkKeys, but the data failed to yield a significant relationship between completers and non-completers of Career and Technical Educational Pathways. Data also revealed no significant difference in gender as it relates to performance on the ACT WorkKeys.