Basic Education for Adults Data and Research
Research conducted by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges shows that at least one year of college-level courses, plus a credential, such as welding or drafting, represents an economic “tipping point” — the difference between struggling in a low-wage job and having a career that leads to a better life.
Integrated Basic Education for Adults Research
- The IES Study describes the findings of three I-BEST studies that explore the effects of I-BEST on education and labor market outcomes.
- Net Impact and Cost-Benefit Evaluation of Washington State's Workforce Development Programs Study examines the impact of the workforce education and training system on economic growth and unemployment trends during the post-pandemic recovery.
- The Opportunity Grant and I-BEST Programs: Enrollment and Outcomes Report is an evaluation of enrollments, demographic trends, completions and employment outcomes for students participating in the Opportunity Grant and I-BEST Programs.
- The SBCTC Guided Pathways Study explores the impact of the Guided Pathways reform model on student success in transitioning to college level programs. I-BEST is the primary vehicle for Basic Education for Adults students to transition to college level programs and is used as a control group in the study.
- Tipping Point Research by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) reveals how much and what kind of education is sufficient to impact an adult’s ability to significantly increase this or her earning power.
- The Impact for WorkFirst Participants of Reaching the Tipping Point shows that WorkFirst parents who reached the tipping point were more likely to be employed, have higher earnings and spend fewer months on TANF.
- The Investments in I-BEST Programs: A Cost Benefit to Students and Society demonstrates powerful results for I-BEST students, who gain the skills that meet the demands of local employers and move families into the middle class. I-BEST stands for "Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training," an innovative program developed by the community and technical colleges in Washington state to increase the rate at which adult basic skills students enter and succeed in postsecondary occupational education and training.
- I-BEST in the news: President Obama Remarks on Higher Education
White House Diplomatic Reception Room, April 24, 2009 (transcript and video of remarks) - The Educational Outcomes of I-BEST Washington State Community & Technical College System’s Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program: Findings from a Multivariate Analysis by the Community College Research Center(CCRC) presents findings on the outcomes of the I-BEST program.
- The Contextualized College Transition Strategies for Adult Basic Skills Students: Learning from Washington State’s I-BEST Program Model is a study by the CCRC that represents the final phase of a multi-year evaluation of the I-BEST model that began in 2009, conducted by CCRC in collaboration with the Washington SBCTC. The Summary of CCRC Report provides a concise review of the full report.
