Mississippi College and Career Testing

ACT State Testing

The ACT assessment is a curriculum- and standards-based educational planning tool that assesses students' academic readiness for college. The ACT is administered to all students classified as eleventh grade students during the academic year.  Ungraded students whose birthdays link them to the cohort of students identified as eleventh grade students will also be included.

ACT WorkKeys

ACT WorkKeys is a series of assessments that measures skills essential for success in the 21st century workplace.  The ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (ACT WorkKeys NCRC) is a credential issued based on competencies on three assessments: Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents.  Examinees must score at least a 3 or higher on each of the three assessments to earn an ACT WorkKeys NCRC, which is issued at four levels – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

School districts and charter schools participating in the statewide testing agreement are eligible to receive grant funds for students in grades 10-12 for one administration of the ACT WorkKeys assessment series.

• Statewide Agreement for ACT WorkKeys Testing: The statewide agreement for ACT WorkKeys is an opt-in process.  Districts who choose to participate in the statewide agreement will complete an opt-in survey in early fall, followed by a participation agreement from ACT in early fall.
• MDE Reimbursement for ACT WorkKeys Assessment: The MS Legislature appropriated $1,000,000 in Mississippi House Bill 1600 (2022) to reimburse for the expense of ACT WorkKeys assessments.  Districts participating in the statewide testing agreement for ACT WorkKeys who wish to apply for reimbursement must complete the application and excel sheet (see links below) and upload to the ACT WorkKeys folder in Student Assessment Navigator (DTC Login Required). 
  • Submit Reimbursement Application (Cover Sheet, Excel Form, Testing rosters, and Paid Invoices) to request reimbursement.​
  • Due first week of June 2025.​