This document is designed to help community-based organizations (CBOs) and civil rights groups get involved as full partners in developing a voluntary, national system of skill standards, assessment, and certification. Section 1 explains the benefits to CBOs and civil rights groups of becoming involved in the skill standards development. Section 2 previews the process through which the National Skill Standards Board (NSSB) and the Voluntary Partnerships are developing a national skills standards system. It highlights ways in which the National Skills Standards Act of 1994 (the Act) requires the involvement of CBOs and civil rights groups. Sections 3 and 4 correspond to the first two stages in the process of developing a skill standards system. Section 3 on coalition building and Voluntary Partnership recognition provides an abstract of the language of the Act and the NSSB criteria governing official recognition of a Voluntary Partnership. Section 4 on developing standards, assessment, and certification presents criteria concerning civil rights, opportunity, and access and requirements for the development of consensus within the Voluntary Partnership. Section 5 presents concluding remarks. Section 6 has these appendixes: the Act and NSSB Criteria for Civil Rights, Opportunity, and Assessment. (YLB)