• What is the difference between state-funded ACT testing and state-reimbursed WorkKeys testing? Can WorkKeys be given to students instead of the ACT?

• How can students take WorkKeys?
• How can my school become a WorkKeys testing site?
• Are Adult Education Centers WorkKey Testing locations?
• Does my school need to be a WorkKeys testing site for my students to take WorkKeys?
• Our WorkKeys contact has left the school or moved to another position. How do I update my school’s contact information?

• How is WorkKeys testing paid for?
• Is applying for reimbursement required?
• What are the eligibility requirements for WorkKeys reimbursement?
• When and how will schools receive the reimbursement money?
• How long does a school have to apply for reimbursement?
• Are chartered nonpublic schools able to become WorkKeys testing sites?
• Does the Department also reimburse WorkKeys Curriculum?

• What accommodations are available on the WorkKeys tests?

No, WorkKeys is not an alternative test to the ACT. See the chart below for a breakdown of the differences between ACT and WorkKeys testing.

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Students can take WorkKeys at an established WorkKeys testing site. All Ohio high schools are eligible but not required to become WorkKeys testing sites. However, they are not set up as sites automatically.

For WorkKeys testing to be eligible for reimbursement from the Department, schools must test under a state testing realm ID number provided by ACT. Signing up independently for WorkKeys and testing under a non-state realm will render the tests non-reimbursable, and the cost will be at the expense of the school or district.

There is a significant discount for WorkKeys tests when testing under a state testing realm even if the tests are non-reimbursed.
 

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School personnel should email Katie Hahn with the address of the school and the name and contact information of the staff member who will be the WorkKeys contact. ACT will follow up with the contact person to provide site setup information. School personnel will need to sign a participation agreement and will receive training from ACT. There is no cost or requirement to test for obtaining a state testing realm.
 

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Adult education centers may offer WorkKeys testing and allow high school students to test under their realm ID, but those tests would not be eligible for reimbursement. The Department only issues reimbursement to K-12 schools. 
 

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You have the option of partnering with an educational service center (ESC) or joint vocational district (JVSD) that is already an established WorkKeys testing site and already testing under a state testing realm to test your students.
 

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ACT provides a change of information form. Someone from ACT will follow up with the school’s new contact person.
 

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Schools and districts pay ACT directly for WorkKeys testing and can apply for reimbursement from the Department. WorkKeys testing is not automatically reimbursed. Schools and districts must apply for reimbursement through the WorkKeys Reimbursement Portal.
 

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Applying for reimbursement is required to receive reimbursement, but it is not required as part of the state’s contract with ACT. The district will not be penalized for failing to apply for reimbursement.
 

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For their WorkKeys testing to be reimbursable, a student must be a current high school student, take all three WorkKeys tests (Workplace Documents, Applied Mathematics, and Graphic Literacy), and have an SSID (students’ SSIDs are used for their examinee/employee IDs on the registration). 

The Department will only pay for each student to take all three tests one time. If the student does not take all three tests, the Department does not reimburse at all. If the student retakes one or more of the tests, the Department will only reimburse the first attempt. 
 

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WorkKeys payments are issued via direct deposit to the school. When the reimbursement is received depends on when the application is submitted, but it is not automatic. WorkKeys payments are batch processed once per fiscal quarter. Districts are responsible for payments to ACT/WorkKeys.
 

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Reimbursement applications are due on June 30 each year for the preceding school year (fiscal year) of testing.
 

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The Department currently is unable to reimburse chartered nonpublic schools directly for WorkKeys testing, but nonpublic schools may partner with another school such as a JVSD to administer WorkKeys to their students. The reimbursement would be issued to the testing site.

Furthermore, some nonpublic schools do not have a statewide student identifier (SSID). An SSID is required for WorkKeys reimbursement. You may request an SSID from the Department or administer WorkKeys without applying for reimbursement.
 

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No, the Department does not endorse or reimburse WorkKeys Curriculum, only WorkKeys Assessments. Schools and districts may purchase the WorkKeys Curriculum for their students, but the state does not have a contract with ACT to provide it.
 

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The text to speech version of WorkKeys is available to students who have both text to speech and extended time accommodations documented in their IEP or 504 plan. Paper testing is available to students with accommodations only.
 

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