What is Integrated Basic Education Skills Training?
Integrated Basic Skills pairs English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), and General Education Development (GED) instructors with professional-technical instructors in the same classroom to concurrently provide literacy education and workforce skills training to Basic Education (ABE/GED) and English as a Second Language adult students.
This integrated approach provides just the right level of education in just the amount for students to succeed in workforce training. In this integrated model, the Basic Skills curriculum is tailored to the skills that are needed to learn and do the job for which the student is training. The basic skills are all taught in the context of the career.
The State of Washington's economy is highly dependent on the creation of pathways to success in the workforce for English Language Learners and Adult Basic Education students. The Integrated Basic Skills program fully addresses the need to provide work skills and basic education in a timelier manner. This has proven to be an effective approach to teaching and learning, for ESL, ABE and GED students.
Is this program successful?
Over the past two years 10 Integrated Basic Skills programs were piloted in Washington State and produced the following results:
- Integrated students were 5 times more likely to earn college credits than were traditional Basic Skills students!
- Integrated students earned an average of 10 college-level credits compared to only 3 college-level credits earned by the students in traditional Basic Skills classes!
- Integrated students earned an average of 12 workforce credits as compared to only 2 workforce credits earned by the comparison group!
- Integrated students were 15 times more likely to complete workforce training!
- 44% of the integrated students completed workforce-training programs as compared to only 3% of the comparison group!
- Most of these completions were in short term certificate programs that provide living wage employment opportunities and educational progression.
Dropout rates among this segment of the college's student population have also been significantly reduced.
I-Best Resources - as part of the SBCTC website
I-Best Resource Links
Research:
- Educational Outcomes of I-BEST, Washington State Community and Technical College System's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program, Findings from a Multivariate Analysis
By Davis Jenkins, Mathew Zeidenberg, and Gregory Kienzl - Increasing Student Achievement for Basic Skills Students
Research Report No. 08-1 - WA State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, January 2008 - I-BEST: A Program Integrating Adult Basic Education and Workforce Training
Research Report No. 05-2 - WA State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, December 2005 - Building Pathways to Success for Low-Skill Adult Students: Lessons for Community College Policy and Practice from a Longitudinal Student Tracking Study; The "Tipping Point" Research
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, April 2005
Publications:
- CALPROGRESS - California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project
Integrating Workplace and Basic Skills for ABE and ESL Students (page 6)
By Tina Bloomer
- Economic Recovery and Washington State's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) Model - Discussion Summary - February 16 - March 1, 2009
Provided by the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) - Economic Recovery and Washington State's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) Model - Discussion Threads and Full Discussion
Provided by the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL)
- Education + Work Skills = Jobs
Literacy Update, October 2008
By Tina Bloomer
- Enrollments, Student Characteristics, Progress and Success for Basic Skills Students in State Support Instruction in Community and Technical Colleges
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, November 2001
- Jobs for the Future, Preparing the Workers of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow
Executive Office of the President Council of Economic Advisers, July 2009
- New Innovations and Best Practices under the Workforce Investment Act: I-BEST
Kathy Cooper, SBCTC Adult Basic Education Policy Associate, testified about I-BEST under the Workforce Investment Act. Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee, Washington D.C., May 5, 2009 (YouTube Video)
- New Innovations and Best Practices under the Workforce Investment Act: I-BEST
The House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness held a hearing on May 5, 2009 to examine best practices for improving adult education and family literacy. - Strengthening State Adult Education Policies for Low-Skilled Workers
Policy Brief, Summer 2007, The Working Poor Families Project
By Amy Ellen Duke and Evelyn Ganzglass
I-BEST Videos:
- Restoring American Leadership in Higher Education
Video segment featuring Pierce College I-BEST (11:30 to 16:50). Includes interviews with students, Michelle Johnson, Amy Metcalfe, Tina Bloomer. Video footage provided by Clover Park Technical College, Highline Community College, Lake Washington Technical College.
Main interview about I-BEST with Tina Bloomer, SBCTC workforce education policy associate (23:30). Education News Parents Can Use, ED.gov television, May edition
- Bellingham Technical College - I-BEST Programs
- Clark College - Better skills. Better jobs. Better Lives.
- Clover Park Technical College - Literacy, Better skills, Better Jobs
- Highline Community College - How do the students feel about I-BEST?
To view this video, Real Player is required; a link is provided to download it.
- Spokane Falls Community College - I-BEST Students
Other Resources:
- Highline Community College's I-BEST Resource Web Site
- I-BEST and Financial Aid
Provided by Green River Community College - Sample I-BEST Student Contract
Provided by South Puget Sound Community College