North Carolina Community Colleges

College and Career Readiness

Basic Skills Plus Policies and Procedures Implementation Guide

May 2017

Update Effective May 2018 See page 5(c)

Update Effective September 2018 See page 6 - Use of Funds

Update Effective 9/1/2019 and 12/1/2019 See page 5, 8, 9, and 11.

Contact

Phone: 919-807-7144

Email: atkinsonc@nccommunitycolleges.edu

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Table of Contents

Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 4

Basic Skills Plus Legislation ..................................................................................................... 4

Basic Skills Plus Policies and Procedures ............................................................................... 4

Program Components and Design .......................................................................................... 5

Student Eligibility ..................................................................................................................... 5

Co-or Concurrent Enrollment ................................................................................................. 5

Use of Funds .............................................................................................................................. 6

Instructional Components and Career Pathways .................................................................. 6

Career Pathways ....................................................................................................................... 7

Collaboration and Partnerships .............................................................................................. 7

Student Transitions .................................................................................................................. 7

Program Operation and Administration ................................................................................ 7

Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) ................................................................................................. 7

Financial Aid Assistance for Students .................................................................................... 8

Waiver of Tuition and Course Registration Fees .................................................................. 8

Accountability and Reporting ................................................................................................. 8

Basic Skills Plus Budget and Notification of New Career Pathways. .................................. 8

Appendix A. Waiver of Tuition and Course Registration Fees ............................................ 9

Appendix B. Date of Colleges’ Approval for Basic Skills Plus .......................................... 10

Appendix C. Basic Skills Plus Program Budget .................................................................. 10

Appendix D. Basic Skills Plus Career Pathway Template (July 2017) ............................. 12

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Introduction Basic Skills Plus (BSKP) was enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2010 to provide accelerated job

training for participants seeking a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. The educational practices and

strategies for Basic Skills Plus were developed from key national adult education initiatives that include:

Breaking Through, Achieving the Dream, Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training, Accelerating

Opportunity, and the US Department of Labor Career Pathways Toolkit: A Guide for System Development1.

Basic Skills Plus entered permanent law in 2015 and is assigned to the North Carolina Community Colleges-

Programs and Student Services Division/College and Career Readiness (CCR) Section for management and

oversight. The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) is responsible for the administration of

both state and federally funded adult education literacy programs provided by North Carolina Community Colleges. Basic Skills Plus supports the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 2014 to ensure compliance

with federal mandates. This document provides guidance for the legislation and outlines policies that have been

established for Basic Skills Plus by the North Carolina General Assembly and the State Board of Community

Colleges.

Basic Skills Plus Legislation Basic Skills Plus provides basic skills instruction, employability skills activities, and workforce training for a

specific occupation or occupational cluster. This instruction must be organized so students are concurrently

enrolled.

• Section 10.2(a). Session Law 2015-241 G.S. 115D-5(b) (15) authorizes the State Board of Community

Colleges (SBCC) to waive tuition and registration fees for courses providing employability skills, job-

specific occupational or technical skills, or developmental education instruction to certain students who

are concurrently enrolled in an eligible community college literacy course, in accordance with rules

adopted by the State Board of Community Colleges.

• Section 10.2 (b)(b1). Session Law 2015-241 G.S. 115D-31(b1) The State Board of Community

Colleges may authorize a local community college to use up to twenty percent (20%) of the State Literacy

funds allocated to it to provide employability skills, job-specific occupational and technical skills, and

developmental education instruction to students concurrently enrolled in an eligible community college

literacy course. Effective July 1, 2015.

Basic Skills Plus Policies and Procedures Basic Skills Plus is designed to prepare students for enrollment in post-secondary education such as career and

technical education, certificate and diploma programs, and training for employment. Basic Skills Plus programs

must include instruction that has the required components and are scheduled, so that a student can be concurrently

enrolled. Program components must include basic skills literacy courses that include instruction in reading,

writing, mathematics, and computer literacy that prepares students to obtain an Adult High School diploma or a

high school equivalency diploma. Instruction must be offered in conjunction with employability skills training

and occupational training in a high demand industry with a career ladder that leads to an industry recognized

occupational credential or local industry certification. Eligible students may have course tuition or registration

fees waived while in this program. Basic Skills Plus is intended for implementation in Basic Skills/College and

Career Readiness programs in North Carolina Community Colleges.

1 https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEN/TEN_17-15_Attachment_Acc.pdf

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Program Components and Design

Student Eligibility

a. To be eligible, participants must be: (A) is at least 16 years of age; (B) is beyond the age of compulsory

school attendance under the law of the state or outlying area; (C) does not have a secondary school

diploma or its recognized equivalent; and (D) is not enrolled in secondary school.

b. Participants must be assessed by a NC approved National Reporting System (NRS) reportable assessment

that is correlated to an NRS educational functional level. Participants may be tested in both reading and

mathematics, but this is not required. Students performing at the adult secondary education level on at

least one NRS-approved assessment and who are co-enrolled in occupational and adult education courses

while earning their adult high school diploma or a recognized high school equivalency credential are

eligible for Basic Skills Plus waiver. Participants must be pre-tested using an NRS approved standardized

assessment. Participants must be post-tested in compliance with the College and Career Readiness 2019-

20 NC Assessment Manual and the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA, Title II Providers’

Guide (revised September 10, 2019).

c. Participants must have an educational functional level at 4.0 or higher in reading or math on an approved

NRS assessment. Pre-and post-results must be recorded in the Literacy Education Information System

(LEIS). The student’s lowest educational function level 5 or 6 is used to determine eligibility for waiver

of tuition or registration fees.

Basic Skills Plus students who are also Adult High School (AHS) students are not required to have a

separate assessment on an approved National Report System (NRS) assessment. Having an assessment

for each student is recommended as a best practice for formative accountability and instructional

purposes. However, this is a local option that providers may choose to adopt according to local policy

and requirements.

For AHS students, the education functional level in Colleague is based on either 1) an NRS approved

assessment score or 2) the student's AHS program start date or first attempted date (as defined in

Colleague and LEIS), and the percentage of AHS credits.

d. The participant must be concurrently enrolled in an eligible community college literacy program and in

courses that provide employability skills training, and workforce training for a specific occupation or

occupational cluster. Students may be required to meet the admissions or registration requirements of a

workforce training program or course as determined by the local community college.

e. An undocumented student is not eligible for waiver of in-state tuition. See State Board Code Admission

to College ID SBCCC400.2(b1) and State Board Code ID SBCCC400.2 (b4).State Board Administrative

Code

Co-or Concurrent Enrollment

a. Participants must be co-or concurrently enrolled in courses and have an educational functional level as

tested on a National Reporting System approved assessment in reading or math. Students that have an

educational assessment level in reading and math at the educational functional level of 4.0 and higher

may be enrolled. Only students with an assessment score of 5.0 or higher on at least one NRS approved

assessment are eligible for the waiver of tuition or registration fees. Eligible participants must be co or

concurrently enrolled in Basic Skills and occupational courses (curriculum or continuing education) that

are included in the Basic Skills Plus program at the time of course registration. Co-or concurrent

enrollment occurs at the time of course registration in the same semester and is at one institution.

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b. Participants with a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent are not eligible for Basic Skills Plus.

Basic Skills Plus students must be co or concurrently enrolled in the occupational and Basic Skills

courses in the same semester. Basic Skills Plus does not require students to be in a cohort to receive

instruction. Eligible individuals who are incarcerated may also be served in Basic Skills Plus programs.

English language learners who are pursuing an adult high school credential may be enrolled in Basic

Skills Plus per eligibility requirements. Students with disabilities who are pursuing an adult high school

credential may be enrolled in Basic Skills Plus per eligibility requirements.

Co-or Concurrent Enrollment— Refers to an eligible individual’s participation or enrollment in multiple

activities or programs that occur simultaneously, not sequentially, for the purpose of accelerating the

attainment of educational and training outcomes. CRF (§463.37).

Use of Funds

Basic Skills Plus (BSKP) programs are supported with funds provided through the college’s Basic Skills

allocation. This allocation is awarded by the NC Community Colleges System according to the requirements of

the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) or Title II of the Workforce Innovation and

Opportunity Act, 2014. Basic Skills Plus is a funding model for a type of Integrated Education and

Training or IET for approved colleges. Basic Skills grant funds that are used to support Basic Skills Plus programs must be budgeted and expended

through Purpose Code: 320 Basic Skills Plus according to allowable costs. Colleges may use curriculum and

continuing education funds to support the employability skills, job-specific occupational and technical skills, and

developmental education instructional components of Basic Skills Plus programs. Occupational education and

training are not allowable activities under Title II. Additionally, colleges may use up to 20% of their Basic Skills

or AEFLA Grant to support Basic Skills Plus program costs, including:

• Instructional costs of Basic Skills courses, including the salaries of Basic Skills instructor(s) as well

as fringe benefits, supplies, materials, and travel paid from college funds. Basic Skills programs may

purchase occupational skills textbooks and instructional materials which may be loaned to students for the

duration of enrollment in the Basic Skills Plus program. These books and materials are to be used in

occupational skills programs as well as in contextualized basic skills classes and may be included with

educational/Instructional Supplies and Materials.

Colleges are responsible for retrieving all loaned textbooks and instructional materials.

• Assessment and retention specialists

• Transportation of Basic Skills Plus students

• Transition, employability skills training, and career counselling services

• Workforce preparation activities, programs or services

Colleges may waive tuition and registration fees for occupational courses. Colleges should establish policies that

provide guidance to Basic Skills Plus students on expected expenditures related to their program of study. Many

community college programs secure private grants or separate funding sources to cover additional training

materials or certification costs to assist Basic Skills Plus students.

Instructional Components and Career Pathways The instructional and career pathway components that are included in Basic Skills Plus should follow evidenced-

based research for adult education and integrated education and training requirements of the Workforce

Innovation and Opportunity Act. Instruction and training must be aligned to the North Carolina Adult Education

Content Standards. Colleges enroll eligible students in career pathways that offer Basic Skills instruction

concurrent with occupational instruction and training. Instruction should be integrated and contextualized, career

pathways should include both academic and non-academic student support services. Programs are encouraged to

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incorporate work-based and workforce preparation learning opportunities such as pre-apprenticeships and

employability skills.

Integrated education and training should be delivered to allow students to move through a sequence of basic

education or pre-college courses while working on certificates and certifications for employment. Further,

integrated education and training allows students to work on college-level studies right away which allows

participants to reduce the amount of time needed to prepare for career and employment advancement. Colleges

will designate how they will coordinate their Basic Skills Plus programs and may establish a planning or

implementation committee to coordinate Basic Skills Plus program activities. Basic Skills Plus programs should

implement career pathways that align with occupations that are in demand in the local workforce area and region.

Career Pathways

Career Pathways are a necessary component of Basic Skills Plus programs. Career pathways are linked education

and training activities that enable students to advance over time to higher levels of education that prepare them for

employment. Each step of a career pathway is designed to prepare students to progress to the next level of

College and Career Readiness. Pathways should be designed to help participants earn employment related

credentials that are industry recognized (both local and national). The career pathway model is based on the

guidance of the US Department of Labor-Career Pathways Toolkit.

Collaboration and Partnerships

The Basic Skills Plus program plan should include internal partners within the local community college as well as

stakeholders from various external partner organizations such as corrections education, employers, workforce

development boards and associations, community-based organizations, NC Works Centers, Health and Human

Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, etc. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act supports partnerships

that enhance student outcomes and leverage available federal, state, and local resources. Colleges should seek

multiple sources of funding and guidance outside of their regular Basic Skills program for outreach/recruitment,

academic support, career advising, financial assistance, work-based learning and employment placement for

students.

Internal partners for the NC Community Colleges System include: Curriculum, Continuing Education, Student

Services and Financial Aid, Student Success, Finance, Compliance and Review, Research and Performance

Management, Career and Technical Education and Information and Technology. These partners receive updates

on enhancements to Basic Skills Plus Programs.

Student Transitions

Basic Skills Plus programs include strategies that support student transition to postsecondary education and

training as they earn their high school credential and an occupational credential. Strategies that promote transition

and success within a career pathway are essential to help students complete a program and earn a credential and

degree faster. Colleges should assist students with planning and counseling services as they set their career and

educational goals. Colleges should also develop strategies to track student progress and overall student

persistence. Intake and orientation sessions that provide information on policies, activities, financial needs, career

awareness and interest assessments are important onboarding activities to help ensure student progress and

success.

Program Operation and Administration

Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs)

Basic Skills Plus students who are co-enrolled in curriculum, continuing education, developmental education, and

Basic Skills classes must be identified in the Colleague data system with the required Basic Skills Plus codes as

provided in the Tuition and Registration Fee Waiver Reference Guide, effective October 29, 2018 The local

planning or implementation team authorized by the local college determines which educational unit will receive

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the FTEs. This determination is usually based on which educational unit is contractually obligated to the

instructor of the course. This determination should be made at the beginning of the academic period or semester.

The Basic Skills, Curriculum and Continuing Education instructor must maintain a separate class roster for the

Basic Skills Plus students who are enrolled in a class with students from other instructional divisions, so that clear

documentation is maintained. It is important that faculty regularly record attendance in the appropriate online

system or format designated by each community college.

Financial Aid Assistance for Students

Students enrolled in Title IV courses in eligible career pathways may be eligible for federal financial aid

assistance or Ability to Benefit-Financial Aid. This determination is made collaboratively by the Basic Skills

staff with their college’s Financial Aid Administrator.

Waiver of Tuition and Course Registration Fees

As an incentive for student recruitment and enrollment, community colleges may waive required tuition

(curriculum courses) and or registration fees (continuing education courses) for students.

Students are not eligible for the Basic Skills Plus tuition or fee waiver once they complete the requirements

for a high school diploma or the high school equivalency.

Waivers are available for students in Basic Skills and Basic Skills Plus per the Tuition and Registration Fee

Waiver Reference Guide, effective October 29, 2018 (see Appendix A).

Accountability and Reporting All Basic Skills Plus students must be coded on the Literacy Education Information Services (LEIS) form. The

expected outcome for Basic Skills Plus programs is to provide opportunities for participants to increase their

ability to transition to postsecondary education and obtain employment. Accountability for continuous

improvement is supported via compliance reviews of the Basic Skills Plus programs by the North Carolina

Community Colleges Compliance Services Unit and monitoring visits conducted by the College and Career

Readiness team. Data and performance on the following are addressed in finance reports and feedback to

program staff:

• Percent of participants/students making educational functional level gain

• Status in meeting the National Reporting System Multiple Skills Gain target

• Percent of participants post-tested

• Percent of National Reporting System students without an initial placement

• Percent change in total attendance hours

Basic Skills Plus Budget and Notification of New Career Pathways.

Effective December 1, 2019, approved Colleges are not required to submit a separate budget for Basic Skills Plus

(BSKP) programs. Colleges are encouraged to develop a budget for their Basic Skills Plus programs as a best

practice of program management and leadership.

a. Complete the Basic Skills Plus Career Pathway Template and Career Pathway Map (see Appendix D) and

submit online to the Basic Skills Plus Online Registry https://nclor.org/

Instructions for submitting the Career Pathway Template and Map are provided by the College and Career

Readiness staff. Pathways should be approved by the Chief Academic Officer or Senior Continuing

Education Administrator. College and Career Readiness Staff will review the new pathway and provide

feedback within 30 days.

b. Colleges should also notify designated CCR staff when a Basic Skills Plus pathway is no longer being

offered or when there is a need to add or delete a course from the pathway.

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For reference, a list of approved Basic Skills Plus (BSKP) programs and the year of approval is provided in this

document (see Appendix B).

Appendix A. Waiver of Tuition and Course Registration Fees

Tuition and Registration Fee Waiver Reference Guide, effective October 29, 2018

General Statute G. S. 115D-5(b)(15)

SBCC Code (s) IE SBCCC800 Waivers

Definition: Students enrolled in a State Board-approved Basic

Skills Plus program.

Basic Skills Plus is a program that provides

employability skills, job-specific occupational and

technical skills, and developmental education

instruction to certain students concurrently enrolled

in an eligible community college literacy course,

consistent with the Basic Skills Plus Policies &

Procedures.

Tuition Remission Report Discount/AR Code: Continuing Education:

CEBSP – Basic Skills Plus students

Curriculum:

WBSKP – Basic Skills Plus students

Eligible Training: Students may only be waived for occupational

extension and/or curriculum courses that are part of

a State-Board-approved Basic Skills Plus program.

Waivers associated with a Basic Skills Plus

program may not exceed 12 credit hours for

curriculum courses, or 96 hours for continuing

education courses, or a single CE course that is

longer than 96 hours.

Documentation: Colleges are responsible for ensuring that students

are enrolled in Basic Skills Plus programs

consistent with the Basic Skills Plus Policies &

Procedures.

Additional Information: • Colleges must obtain approval from the State Board to offer a Basic Skills Plus program and must operate that program consistent with the Basic Skills Plus Policies & Procedures. • For more information on Basic Skills Plus, consult the associated webpage at http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/college-and-career-readiness/basic-skills-plus.

1E SBCCC 800.2 – “General Provisions.” The SBCC amended 1E SBCCC 800.2 – “General Provisions” to

clarify the issue of waiver eligibility when a student’s status may change mid-term. The intent is for the waiver to

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apply to any course section offered during the academic term, regardless of when the term starts, if a student

meets the eligibility requirements as of the first day of the term.

The rule will be effective 1 February 2017.

Appendix B. Date of Colleges’ Approval for Basic Skills Plus

Community College Year Approved Community College Year Approved

Alamance CC 2014 Martin CC 2012

Asheville Buncombe TCC 2012 Mayland CC 2013

Beaufort County CC 2011 McDowell TCC 2015

Bladen CC 2011 Mitchell CC 2011

Blue Ridge CC 2011 Montgomery CC 2014

Brunswick CC 2011 Nash CC 2011

Caldwell CC/TI 2011 Pamlico CC 2011

Cape Fear CC 2010 Piedmont CC 2014

Carteret CC 2013 Pitt CC 2011

Catawba Valley CC 2011 Randolph CC 2011

Central Carolina CC 2011 Richmond CC 2011

Central Piedmont CC 2011 Roanoke-Chowan CC 2011

Cleveland CC 2016 Robeson CC 2011

Coastal Carolina CC 2011 Rockingham CC 2012

College of the Albemarle 2011 Rowan-Cabarrus CC 2014

Craven CC 2012 Sampson CC 2013

Davidson County CC 2011 Sandhills CC 2011

Durham TCC 2011 South Piedmont CC 2014

Edgecombe CC 2012 Southeastern CC 2011

Fayetteville TCC 2012 Southwestern CC 2011

Forsyth TCC 2014 Stanly CC 2011

Gaston College 2013 Surry CC 2015

Guilford TCC 2011 Tri-County CC 2011

Halifax CC 2015 Vance-Granville CC 2012

Haywood CC 2012 Wake Technical CC 2011

Isothermal CC 2011 Wayne CC 2011

James Sprunt CC 2015 Western Piedmont CC 2012

Johnston CC 2011 Wilkes CC 2010

Lenoir CC 2011 Wilson CC 2011

Appendix C. Basic Skills Plus Program Budget

NC Community College System (NCCCS)

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College and Career Readiness Example Budget Form. Effective December 1, 2019, Colleges are not required to submit a budget.

Program Year July 1, 20XX - June 30, 20XX Upon recommendation of the North Carolina Community College System the following budget is allotted for the

above purpose and period. Date Budget Approved: by Vice President for

Instruction/ Chief Academic Officer or Senior Continuing Education Administrator.

Community College:

Total State Literacy Funds Allocation:

Maximum Amount (20%)

Funds Allocated for Basics Skills Plus

Please Specify Basic Skills Plus program budget

Allowable Expenditures Budget

A. Salaries –Instructional $

B. Salaries – Non-Instructional

C. Fringe – FICA

D. Fringe - State Retirement

E. Fringe – Medical

F. Travel – Training, Transportation, Meals, and Lodging (Staff)

G. Educational/Instructional Supplies and Materials

H. General Supplies and Materials

I. Transportation - Student

J. Career Services

K.. Other (describe in narrative)

L. Other (describe in narrative)

M. Other (describe in narrative)

Total $

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Appendix D. Basic Skills Plus Career Pathway Template (July 2017)

See Basic Skills Plus Budget and Notification of New Career Pathways

1. College: 2. Name and email of contact person:

3. Name of Basic Skills Plus Career Pathway:

If based in Curriculum, please provide the Curriculum

Code-Example: Welding Technology A50420

4. Date:

5. a. Source(s) and data used to identify local labor market demand. Include link for documentation that the occupations are in demand.

b. Identify the local workforce development board representative (title) who has endorsed this occupation(s) as being in demand.

6. What credential(s) will be earned because of the education and training in this pathway (degree, diploma, certificate, certification, license, badge)?

Include all. a. List credential(s) that are recognized by a national industry. b. List the credential(s) recognized locally? c. Identify the industry.

Example: a. CNC Milling Operator; CNC Turning Operator recognized by the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) b. None

c. Advanced Manufacturing

7. Describe the eligibility requirements

required for entrance into Basic

Skills Plus. Include scale score(s)

and subject(s).

8. What Orientation or Developmental Education courses are

required? Example ACA 115 or DMA 020 Please list:

9. How is student enrollment and

attendance managed? Opened or

Managed?

10. a. How many curriculum credit(s) are earned in the Career Pathway?

b. How many Continuing Education hours(s) are earned in the Career Pathway?

11. Describe intake and orientation processes. What assessments are used to determine student career interests, prior learning, and work readiness?

12.Describe all Student Support services (academic and non-academic) provided to Basic Skills Plus students at entry through credential attainment.

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13. List all courses required in the pathway: List course name and course number in the order in which they are taken by semester.

a. Note any course prerequisites. Include the number of credits earned for each course or hours earned for single continuing education course.

Include work-based learning and pre-apprenticeship courses.

b. Notify College and Career Readiness if course is added or removed from the pathway.

c. Provide a Career Pathway Map that illustrates how Basic Skills instruction, student support, and occupational skills training are integrated in

the Career Pathway.

Basic

Skills Plus

Semester

Basic Skills Course(s)

Example: BSP 2000

High School Equivalency Prep

Continuing Education or Occupational

Course(s) List Course Name and Number

Example: Welding WLD 3106

Provide number of instructional hours for

each course.

Curriculum Course(s)

List Curriculum Course Prefix, Code

Number and Course Title.

Example: WLD 110 Cutting Processes

Provide number of credits for each

course.

I

II

III

IV

14. Describe the instructional strategies used to support integrated

education and training. Team Teaching? Cooperative Teaching?

Distance Education? Hybrid? Bridge Instruction?

15. Describe career awareness and exploration courses, employability skills

such as human resource development and other training that are a part of

the Career Pathway.

Career Pathway was approved by College’s Vice President of Instruction/Chief Academic Officer or Senior Continuing Education Administrator.

Type Name Signature (Electronic Signature May Be Used) Date