Since 1988, the Adult Basic Skills Professional Development Project, under the direction of the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), has remained committed to improving the quality of Basic Skills instruction. ABSPD continues to stride forward in training Basic Skills trainers, administrators, and instructors throughout the State. The project offices are housed at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.

Through extensive training programs and materials, ABSPD provides a professional development structure upon which all North Carolina community college Basic Skills instructors can build a successful literacy program. It is estimated that the ABSPD Project's two Summer Institutes impact over 8,000 ABS instructors annually. The Summer Institutes run through a 3-year cycle which focuses on reading, writing and mathematics.