3042-I-BEST

Study Name

Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST)

Study Sharepoint ID

3042

Evaluation name

Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST)

This study received a low study quality rating because it did not use a method for addressing missing data that is known to limit bias.

Design

Quasi-experimental design

Services

Education

Supportive services

Training

Occupational or sectoral training

Work and work-based learning

Work experience

Work readiness activities

Settings in which the intervention was studied

Tested in multiple settings

Demographics

Count age

Count Young Adults

Count Hard-to-employ

Count Disability

Count chronically ill

Count mentally ill

Count substance dependent

Count formerly incarcerated

Count Justice involved

Count limited work history

Count homeless

Count immigrants

Count refugees

Count veterans

Count female

Count Male

Count Any postsecondary education

Count With a high school diploma or GED

Count No high school diploma or GED

Count Married

Count Parents

Count Single Parents

Count Non-Custodial Parents

Count Employed

Count Self employed

Count Unemployed

Count Disconnected/discouraged workers

Count general low-income population

Count Very low income (as classified by the authors)

Count welfare population

Count long-term welfare recipients

Count Asian

Count Black or African American

Count Hispanic or Latino of any race

Count American Indian or Alaska Native

Count Pacific islander

Count White

Count More than one race

Count Unknown race

Count another race

Study Characteristics

Group formation formatted

The I-BEST program was implemented at a number of community and technical colleges throughout Washington state. The intervention group consisted of students who chose to enroll in I-BEST. The comparison group included all basic skills students in the same community or technical colleges in Washington state who enrolled in a non-I-BEST occupational training course.

Study timing formatted

The study included students who enrolled in I-BEST or a comparison program from 2006 to 2007 and from 2007 to 2008. The study authors examined outcomes until 2009 for both cohorts of participants.

Study funding formatted

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Implementing organization formatted

Community and technical colleges in Washington state

Program history

The I-BEST program began with a two-year pilot at five community colleges in Washington state in the 2004–2005 academic year. The program expanded to additional schools in the 2006–2007 academic year.

Treatment condition formatted

Individuals in the intervention condition were students enrolled in I-BEST at community and technical colleges throughout Washington state. I-BEST provided those in the intervention condition with an integrated curriculum combining basic skill instruction in subjects like math and literacy with occupational classes in in-demand career pathways. The medical assistant, nurse's aide, and office manager I-BEST programs had the highest enrollments.

Comparison condition formatted

Individuals in the comparison condition were students with no prior college education who took a non-I-BEST basic skills course at a community college or technical school in Washington state.

Mandatory services formatted

None

Program funding formatted

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges provided a higher rate of funding for I-BEST students than it did for other full-time equivalent community college students.

Setting details formatted

The study took place at community and technical colleges across Washington state.

Delivered by public or private entity?

Public

Citations/manuscripts

Earliest publication year

2009

Most recent publication year

2012

Manuscripts

3042

26709