This study was commissioned by the California Community Colleges System Office to identify effective practices in basic skills programs. The Center for Student Success (CSS), which is affiliated with the Research and Planning (RP) Group for California Community Colleges, was selected to conduct the study. There are three major components of the study: (1) An extensive review of the literature related to basic skills practices, as well as an overview of examples of strategies employed by 33 California community colleges and nine out-of-state institutions; (2) A self-assessment tool which will allow colleges to reflect on how their current practices fit with the findings from the literature regarding what are known to be effective practices for basic skills students; and (3) A cost/revenue model for developmental education programs which provides a way to explore the incremental revenues that can be derived over time from such programs. Over 250 references, spanning more than 30 years, were reviewed, making this the most comprehensive review of literature in the area of basic skills conducted in California community colleges to date. Study after study by a multitude of researchers confirms a consistent set of elements that commonly characterize effective developmental education programs. These elements can be organized under the broad categories of organizational and administrative practices, program components, staff development, and instructional practices. A total of 26 effective practices emerged under four major categories: (1) Organizational and Administrative Practices; (2) Program Components; (3) Staff Development; and (4) Instructional Practices. A set of brief summaries of case-studies gathered by the Center for Student Success are also included as examples of effective practices that have been developed at colleges around the state based largely on the same research and literature cited in this guide. [This report was prepared by The Center for Student Success and the Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges and was sponsored by USA Funds.]