Digital Micro-Credentials

Through the Home Run initiative, the City of West Sacramento aims to improve the work readiness skills of our entry-level workforce. The Home Run offers three online courses designed to help students and workers gain the 21^st Century Skills valued most by local employers. By completing each course, learners can earn a digital micro-credential that serves as evidence of that skill.

In Spring 2022, with the help of the Education Design Lab (EDL) in Washington, DC, the Home Run team consulted with local employers to identify the skills they value most in entry-level employees. This consultation led to the selection of the three micro-credentials on the left, developed by EDL, that are now available to West Sacramento residents.

A 21^st Century Skills micro-credential signals the completion of a rigorous, in-depth learning experience focused on a transferrable skill like collaboration, critical thinking or creative problem-solving. To earn a micro-credential, a learner must demonstrate proficiency via a performance-based assessment. Once the course is completed, the learner receives a digital “badge” that can be shared electronically.

The City of West Sacramento offers these courses and credentials free of charge to all West Sacramento residents, employers and educational institutions. This means West Sacramento employers can use the courses to upskill their existing employees, and local educators can incorporate the EDL courses into their own instruction. West Sacramento youth can even earn scholarship funds through the Home Run’s Ready, Set, Save! program for each credential they earn. Job applicants can stand out from the crowd by sharing the credentials with prospective employers.

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