The Basic Skills Levels screen is used to configure cohort-based test level requirements for Florida postsecondary programs. These settings determine how Basic Skills eligibility is evaluated for students based on their program entry date rather than the rule effective date, in alignment with Rule 6A-10.040, F.A.C.
From this screen, districts can define and maintain cohort-specific requirements for TABE, CASAS, and GED assessments, ensuring that program eligibility criteria are applied consistently based on cohort assignment. Administrators can also copy cohort configurations and associate programs with the appropriate cohort to support accurate assessment evaluation.
Access to this screen is controlled by user permissions. Users with View access can review existing cohort configurations, while users with Edit access can create, update, copy, and manage cohort records and program assignments.
The Add Cohort function is used to create a new Basic Skills Levels cohort, which serves as the foundation for defining cohort-specific test requirements and program-level evaluation rules. Cohorts allow districts to group programs under a shared set of Basic Skills criteria that are applied during assessment and eligibility determination.
When adding a cohort, users can define the cohort structure that will be used to associate programs and configure TABE, CASAS, and GED score requirements. Once created, the cohort can be managed, copied, and assigned to students through Student Placement to support cohort-based Basic Skills evaluation in accordance with Florida DOE requirements.
1. In the Scheduling menu, click Basic Skills Levels.
2. Click the black plus sign (+) to add a new cohort.
The default cohort is automatically created during system setup and serves as the baseline structure for Basic Skills Levels configuration. While the cohort exists by default, it does not contain any preconfigured program or test level data. It is used as a fallback for Basic Skills evaluation when no other cohort is assigned to a student, ensuring the process can still run without requiring immediate cohort setup.
3. Add a Progam Title, Short Name, Sort Order, etc. to define a new cohort.
Program Title: Enter a full descriptive name for the program in the text box. This is the primary label used to identify the program within the cohort.
Short Name: Enter a shortened version of the program title for display in limited-space areas such as tables and selection lists.
Sort Order: Enter a numeric value to determine the display order of programs within the cohort. Lower numbers appear first.
Default: Select the check box to designate this program as the default selection within the cohort when applicable.
Min School Year: Enter the minimum school year for which this program configuration is valid within the cohort.
Max School Year: Enter the maximum school year for which this program configuration is valid within the cohort.
4. Press the Enter/Return key to save the cohort data.
The cohort is added to the Cohorts List on the table and the panel displayed on the left.
1. In the Scheduling menu, click Basic Skills Levels.
2. Click the black plus sign (+) to edit or delete a cohort.
3. Click and edit any applicable fields.
Changes save automatically.
4. Click the delete button (red minus sign) to delete the cohort from the list.
Deleting cohorts will also delete any attached programs.
a. In the pop-up window, click OK.
Changes save automatically.
1. In the Scheduling menu, click Basic Skills Levels.
2. In the listed cohorts, select the one for which you want to add data.
3. Enter the program details, including the program title, program number, and the minimum Basic Skills assessment requirements used to evaluate students assigned to the program.
Program Title: Enter a descriptive name for the program (for example, Practical Nursing or Adult Basic Education).
Program Number: Enter the state- or district-defined program number associated with the program (for example, H170607).
TABE Math Min: Enter the minimum TABE Mathematics score or level required to meet the Basic Skills requirement for the program.
TABE Reading Min: Enter the minimum TABE Reading score or level required to meet the Basic Skills requirement for the program.
TABE Language Min: Enter the minimum TABE Language score or level required to meet the Basic Skills requirement for the program.
CASAS Goals Math Min: Enter the minimum CASAS Goals Mathematics score required to meet the Basic Skills requirement for the program.
CASAS Goals Reading Min: Enter the minimum CASAS Goals Reading score required to meet the Basic Skills requirement for the program.
CASAS Goals 2 Math Min: Enter the minimum CASAS Goals 2 Mathematics score required to meet the Basic Skills requirement for the program.
CASAS Goals 2 Reading Min: Enter the minimum CASAS Goals 2 Reading score required to meet the Basic Skills requirement for the program.
4. Press the Enter/Return key to save the program data.
Continue adding programs as needed. There is no limit to the number of programs that can be added to a cohort. Configure the Basic Skills assessment requirements for each program that will be evaluated using the assigned cohort.
1. In the Scheduling menu, click Basic Skills Levels.
2. In the listed cohorts, select the one for which you want to edit or delete data.
3. Click the applicable field to edit data.
Changes save automatically.
4. Click the delete button (red minus sign) to delete the program from the cohort.
a. In the pop-up window, click OK.
Changes save automatically.
The Copy Cohort Configurations feature allows administrators to quickly create a new cohort by duplicating the programs and Basic Skills Level settings from an existing cohort. Copying a cohort eliminates the need to manually recreate program configurations and assessment requirements, making it easier to support new program entry cohorts or policy changes while preserving the original configuration. After the copy is complete, the new cohort can be modified independently without affecting the source cohort.
1. In the Scheduling menu, click Basic Skills Levels.
2. Click the black plus sign (+) to copy a cohort.
3. In the Cohort List, locate the applicable cohort and click the Copy icon.
a. In the pop-up window, click OK.
The selected cohort and all associated program configurations are copied and added to the Cohorts List. The new cohort is created with Copy appended to the end of the cohort name, allowing you to distinguish it from the original before making any necessary updates.
4. Click the Progam Title to edit the name of the new cohort, and edit all other fields, as needed.
Changes save automatically.
5. Select the copied cohort from the list to edit data.
a. Click the applicable field to edit data.
Changes save automatically.
Placement Info fields must be setup via Setup > Fields > Student Fields.
1. In the Students menu, click Student Info.
2. Search for and locate the applicable student.
3. Select the Placement category (or applicable category customized by the district).
4. Enter all applicable info in the Placement Info section including Progam Number, Certificate Seeking, Employment, etc.
After configuring Basic Skills Levels cohorts, assigning students to the appropriate cohort, and ensuring students have the required program, placement, and assessment information, run the Basic Skills scheduled job to evaluate student eligibility. The job compares each student's TABE, CASAS, and GED assessment results against the minimum requirements configured for the student's assigned cohort and program, then updates the student's Basic Skills status accordingly.
1. In the Setup menu, click Scheduled Jobs.
2. Select and create the Basic Skills Assessment job.
See Scheduled Jobs for details on creating new job and running existing jobs.
