Basic Skills

Basic skills are those skills that generally equip customers with the ability and understanding necessary to enter the workforce and be an active participant in work across a variety of occupations. We are looking for vendors who will provide:

• Computer skills training (programs that teach customers non-job specific computer skills from introductory courses on how to use a computer to specific software products as the Microsoft Office Suite)

• Adult basic education (programs that teach people basic literacy, remedial education or GED preparation or teach them how to speak, read or write English.

How to apply to become a vendor offering computer skills or adult basic education:

• Education and Training Vendor Standards & Guidelines

1. Regulation Status:  All vendors must either be (1) licensed or approved by an applicable education regulating body such as, but not limited to, the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), Texas Workforce Commission Career Schools (TWC), or the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship; or (2) provide an exemption letter from TWC Career Schools (unregulated vendors). Please visit Career Schools for more information on how to become a licensed career school.

2. Course Catalog and Curriculum: We require vendors to have a published catalog that describes their courses, programs, services, cost to students, refund and attendance policies, and the criteria used to determine if students have successfully completed (graduated) from the program.  We may ask vendors to provide us with a written copy of curricula.

3. Pricing Information: We pay the publicly advertised or published rate charged to any customer taking the course.  We will not pay for services that are free to the public or to non-Workforce Solutions customers.  For education and training provided over several semesters, vendors must provide the price for each semester.

4. Facility and Equipment Details: Vendors must have ADA-compliant facilities including equipment, textbooks, and software that provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.    Vendors must own or lease the proposed training facility or have an agreement with the organization that does.

5. Financial Stability:  Vendors, with the exception of public colleges and universities, must provide evidence of financial stability prepared by a Certified Public Accountant.  Vendors cannot solely rely on funds from Workforce Solutions.  

6. Record of Performance:  Vendors must have been providing education and training services for at least one year, and we may ask for proof.  We will not approve start-up organizations.

   We require vendors to submit a new application every year that includes performance information for their programs.

7. Instructor Credentials:  We ask unregulated vendors to provide information about the credentials and experience of the instructors who will be providing service such as resumes and curriculum vitae.

• How to Become an Approved Basic Skills Training Vendor

  • Basic Skills Training - Are courses or programs that will generally equip customers with the ability and understanding necessary to enter the workforce and be an active participant in work across a variety of occupations. We've organized basic skills courses and programs into three different categories - those that teach computer skills, those teach adult basic education (literacy, remedial education and GED preparation), and those that teach job readiness skills. 

  • We provide an application form for vendors to complete and submit with the required attachments. 

  1. Download, fill out, print, and sign the basic skills training vendor application form.

  2. Mail the application form with the required attachments to:

     Workforce Solutions Financial Aid Office
     ATTN: Wanda Nathan
     PO Box 741361
     Houston, TX 77274-1361

  3. As a part of the application process, new applicants can expect to receive a visit from Workforce Solutions staff to their training facilities.  You will be contacted to schedule a convenient time for the visit.

  4. Upon approval, a contract will be completed and sent for signature.  Upon completion of the contract, you will be eligible to provide services to Workforce Solutions customers.

  5. All approved Basic Skill educational and training programs are listed at this web site.   When your application has been reviewed and approved, it will be listed here.

     Application Process may take up to 60 days to complete

  • Annual application renewal process
    We approve programs and services for one year.  Vendors must submit a new application every year in order to remain a vendor.  Complete and submit the same application form to stay on the vendors' list.

We are also looking for vendors who provide Job Readiness Skills Training (programs that teach customers non-technical skills and how to function in different work environments.)

Workshops may include an overview of a group of jobs or information about working in a specific industry. Workshops do not teach occupation-specific skills (how to do a job). For example, a job readiness skills course might provide customers with an overview of the construction industry, and teach them basic safety training and terminology used in a variety of construction jobs. Workshops may include instruction in problem-solving and other cognitive skills, oral communication skill, personal qualities and work ethics, and interpersonal and teamwork skills. (Note: We will not approve stand-alone courses that teach communication skills, problem-solving, team work, etc. They must be part of a larger, more comprehensive job readiness skills training course as described above.)We approve job readiness skills programs in response to employer demand.

How to apply to become a vendor offering job readiness skills courses:

• Education and Training Vendor Standards & Guidelines

  1. Regulation Status:All vendors must either be (1) licensed or approved by an applicable education regulating body such as, but not limited to, the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), Texas Workforce Commission Career Schools (TWC), or the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship; or (2) provide an exemption letter from TWC Career Schools (unregulated vendors). Please visit Career Schools for more information on how to become a licensed career school.

  2. Course Catalog and Curriculum: We require vendors to have a published catalog that describes their courses, programs, services, cost to students, refund and attendance policies, and the criteria used to determine if students have successfully completed (graduated) from the program.  We may ask vendors to provide us with a written copy of curricula.

  3. Pricing Information: We pay the publicly advertised or published rate charged to any customer taking the course.  We will not pay for services that are free to the public or to non-Workforce Solutions customers.  For education and training provided over several semesters, vendors must provide the price for each semester.  

  4. Facility and Equipment Details: Vendors must have ADA-compliant facilities including equipment, textbooks, and software that provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.    Vendors must own or lease the proposed training facility or have an agreement with the organization that does.

  5. Financial Stability:  Vendors, with the exception of public colleges and universities, must provide evidence of financial stability prepared by a Certified Public Accountant.  Vendors cannot solely rely on funds from Workforce Solutions.  

  6. Record of Performance:  Vendors must have been providing education and training services for at least one year, and we may ask for proof.  We will not approve start-up organizations.

     We require vendors to submit a new application every year that includes performance information for their programs.

  7. Instructor Credentials:  We ask unregulated vendors to provide information about the credentials and experience of the instructors who will be providing service such as resumes and curriculum vitae.

• How to Become an Approved Basic Skills Training Vendor

  • Basic Skills Training - Are courses or programs that will generally equip customers with the ability and understanding necessary to enter the workforce and be an active participant in work across a variety of occupations. We've organized basic skills courses and programs into three different categories - those that teach computer skills, those teach adult basic education (literacy, remedial education and GED preparation), and those that teach job readiness skills.

  • We provide an application form for vendors to complete and submit with the required attachments. 

    1. Download, fill out, print, and sign the basic skills training vendor application form .

    2. Mail the application form with the required attachments to:
       Workforce Solutions Financial Aid Office
       ATTN: Karen Bailey
       PO Box 741361
       Houston, TX 77274-1361

    3. As a part of the application process, new applicants can expect to receive a visit from Workforce Solutions staff to their training facilities.  You will be contacted to schedule a convenient time for the visit.

    4. Upon approval, a contract will be completed and sent for signature.  Upon completion of the contract, you will be eligible to provide services to Workforce Solutions customers.

    5. All approved Basic Skill educational and training programs are listed at this web site.  When your application has been reviewed and approved, it will be listed here.
       
       Application Process may take up to 60 days to complete

  • Annual application renewal process
    We approve programs and services for one year.  Vendors must submit a new application every year in order to remain a vendor.  Complete and submit the same application form to stay on the vendors' list
    

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