A skills center can help students who are not able to demonstrate appropriate mastery level skills in reading and mathematics. The Girard school system (Kansas) has had two skills centers operating successfully since 1975. Individualized methods combined with group interaction are used to accommodate individuality and different learning styles. Girard uses units of instruction (mostly teacher-made) which consist of goals and objectives, pre-tests, information, exercises, post-tests, remediation, and additional post-tests. Supplementary methods, techniques, or activities are combined with the units to increase student motivation. The advantages of individualized instruction are that it allows students to work at their own pace, builds positive student attitudes, encourages students to assume responsibility, reduces absenteeism, and allows teachers to measure specific learning. The disadvantages are that teachers who enjoy lecturing and leading large group discussions find that the individualized classroom is not a teacher-centered environment; and that an individualized unit program requires a great deal of preparation. (JW)