In 1990, Elizabeth Dole, then Secretary of the Department of Labor, established the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) to determine the skills that youths need to participate in the workplace and the skill levels that entry-level jobs require. SCANS determined that workplace skills consist of foundation skills and competencies. Foundation skills are in the three domains of basic skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities. Competencies fall into the domains of resources, interpersonal skills, information skills, systems skills, and technology utilization skills. SCANS identified and defined these skills by asking commission members for ideas, visiting successful corporations, and reviewing research. A panel of experts then drafted a list of skills that were further refined through review and consultation. SCANS used a sample of 50 jobs to see how the skills related and how clear and comprehensive the experts found the definitions to be. SCANS also studied how proficient workers needed to be in each foundation skill and competency by asking 20 people to rate the skill levels required for job tasks identified by the job analysis. SCAN has two further charges: (1) to suggest effective ways to assess proficiency; and (2) to develop a dissemination strategy for homes, schools, unions, and businesses. Three references are listed. (SLD)