Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST)
About the Intervention
Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) is a program operating at Washington State community and technical colleges designed to provide occupational training and basic skills instruction in a structured career pathway for students whose basic skills levels are too low to enter college-level courses directly. The program serves students in various occupational areas including automotive, electrical, nursing assistant, precision machining, welding, and office skills. I-BEST's signature feature is team teaching, pairing a basic skills instructor with an occupational instructor for at least 50 percent of occupational training class time. The I-BEST programs evaluated in PACE also included two enhancements funded by the Open Society Foundations: dedicated advisors (navigators) to provide guidance on academic issues, navigating college procedures, and career planning; and fill-the-gap financial support for tuition and course-associated materials not covered by other sources. Most I-BEST programs range from one to two quarters in length and result in workforce credentials, with defined pathways for continued education and training.
Statistical Findings
Positive effect on total number of academic and workforce credits earned
Positive effect on workforce completion credentials
Positive effect on workforce award credentials
Positive effect on enrollment in academic courses
Positive effect on enrollment in occupational training courses
Positive effect on enrollment in any college courses
Positive effect on cumulative academic credits
Positive effect on cumulative workforce credits
Positive effect on cumulative academic and workforce credits
Positive effect on receiving occupational credential from a college
Positive effect on receiving occupational credential from licensing or certification agency
Positive effect on enrollment in basic skills or developmental courses
Positive effect on enrollment in college-level algebra
Positive effect on completion of college-level algebra
Positive effect on enrollment in college-level English
Positive effect on completion of college-level English
Positive effect on perceived career progress
Positive effect on social belonging in school
Negative effect on perceived stress
No effect on associate's degree or higher completion
No effect on enrollment in developmental math courses
No effect on enrollment in developmental reading/writing courses
No effect on confidence in career knowledge
No effect on access to career supports
No effect on working in a job paying $12/hour or more
No effect on working in a job requiring at least mid-level skills
No effect on grit
No effect on academic self-confidence
No effect on core self-evaluation
No effect on financial hardship
No effect on life challenges
No effect on living with spouse
No effect on had child since random assignment/currently pregnant
More Intervention Details
Focus Areas
English Learners, Economically DisadvantagedPrograms & Services
Career and Technical Education, General Education, Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language (ESL) ProgramDelivery Methods
Face-to-FaceDisability Support
N/ATarget Groups
Student(s), Teachers/Instructional TeamsSource
Asaph, G., Karen, G., Karin, M. & Sung-Woo, C. (2018). Washington State's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) Program in Three Colleges: Implementation and Early Impact Report. Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education. OPRE Report No. 2018-87 (ED608003). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED608003.pdf.
Study Demographics
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Participant Gender
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Other Participant Characteristics
Geographical Setting
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