The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has adopted a screening tool to help identify if an individual is basic skills deficient.

The Basic Skills Screening Tool is required for all Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) applicants prior to administering a WIOA Title I and II approved assessment unless they meet one of the exceptions listed in the policy.

This screening tool is not to be used as an assessment tool to help determine a participant's educational needs.  If the screening tool identifies an individual as basic skills deficient, that individual must be further assessed to determine their educational needs through the use of the assessment tools identified in this policy.

Anyone unable to complete the screening tool without assistance must automatically be assessed as basic skills deficient.  Adult Program participants who are assessed to be basic skills deficient must receive priority of service whether they are also low-income or public assistance recipients.