September 23, 2005

Dr. John Foster
President/CEO
NOCTI
500 N. Bronson Avenue
Big Rapids, MI 49307

Dear Dr. Foster:

I am pleased to provide this letter of recommendation for the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI). The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) represents the state and territory leaders for the United Statescareer technical education system. NASDCTEc has had the opportunity to partner and work with NOCTI on numerous projects.  It has been our experience that NOCTI works hard to meet the needs of the career technical education community, most notably through the development of quality technical assessments. These assessments are integral to helping our nation’s students be prepared for the demands of the workforce.

NOCTI’s performance assessments allow states to identify where systemic success in achieving technical skills proficiency is occurring and to diagnose achievement gaps. At the school level, the assessments help schools determine which students are excelling and where there is a need for additional support.  In the era of accountability, quality assessments like NOCTI’s are an absolutely critical component for our education and workforce systems.

Recently, NASDCTEc had the opportunity to partner with NOCTI and SkillsUSA, on developing measures to identify and assess and student’s workplace readiness skills.  These measures, the Workplace Readiness Certification program, assesses critical competencies necessary for students and employees to compete and succeed in the future workforce.  Having voiced a clear need for improved job ready performance, many national business leaders have actively supported and endorsed this program.

For its quality work, responsiveness to the career technical education community’s needs and proactive approach to ensure that students are equipped to compete in the 21st century workforce, it is with great delight that I am able to recommend NOCTI as a valued and valuable partner.

Sincerely,

Kimberly A. Green

Executive Director   

the Hall of States • 444 N. Capitol Street, NW Suite 830 • Washington, DC  20001

Phone: (202) 737-0303 • Fax: (202) 737-1106

www.careertech.org