This article presents a summary of the main findings of a national literature review completed as part of a larger study of basic skills effective practices. The study summarized here was commissioned by the California Community Colleges System Office with the purpose of conducting a comprehensive review of national literature and identifying effective practices in basic skills/developmental programs. The Center for Student Success, which is affiliated with the Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges, was selected to conduct the study. The authors list twenty six practices that have been identified under the four major categories: namely, (1) organizational and administrative practices; (2) program components; (3) staff development; and (4) instructional practices.