1. NCWE: National Council for Workforce Education
An affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
A national forum for administrators, faculty, business, labor, military, and government in workforce education, to affect and direct the future role of two-year and other post-secondary institutions in workforce education and economic development
The link between policy and workforce education and economic development by providing support, research, and critical information to members on current and future trends and policies.

2. The Many Faces of I-BEST: WA, TX, MD and KS
Zoe Thompson Faith Harland-White
Director, Workforce Training & Education Dean Continuing and Professional Studies
Kansas Board of Regents, KS Anne Arundel Community College, MD
Linda Leto Head Nadezhda Nazarenko
Associate Vice Chancellor Executive Director
Workforce Ed & Corporate Partnerships College Preparation Programs
Lone Star College System, TX Lone Star College System, TX
Mabel Edmonds Dr. Darlene G. Miller
Associate Vice President of Instruction NCWE Executive Director
Clover Park Technical College, WA

3. Agenda Who is NCWE? Defining the Issue What is I-BEST
Who is NCWE?
Defining the Issue
What is I-BEST
Research on the Effectiveness of I-BEST in WA
I-BEST at Clover Park Technical College
Texas I-BEST
Accelerating Opportunity in KS
MI-BEST: Maryland and I-BEST
Questions

4. Framing the
Issue

5. Our National Crisis
By 2018, less than 30 percent of total jobs will require workers with a high school diploma or less
93 million adults with basic or below basic literacy
13% of adults ages have less than a high school credential
29% have a high school credential but no college
At least three out of every four students that come to our campuses are underprepared to succeed (ACT 2011)

6. The Stark Reality
Postsecondary credentials are the gateway to family-supporting wages that are critical to breaking the intergenerational transmission of poverty in America.
In , more than 2.3M students were enrolled in federally funded basic skills programs yet less than 2 percent made the transition to matriculation (US Department of Education, 2010; Wachen, Jenkins, Belfield and Van Noy, 2012)
Without some type of change in pedagogy, delivery, or structural reform, we will not increase the number of low-skilled adults transitioning to post-secondary education

7. WA SBCTC Tipping Point Study
After 6 years, students with 1 year of college credits plus a credential had the most significant future earnings bump:
$7,000 more/year for ESOL students
$8,500 more/year for an ABE student
$2,700 more/year for workforce students entering with a GED
$1,700 more/year for entering with a HSD

8. What is
I-BEST

9. What are Integrated Career Pathways?
Career pathways that integrate the teaching of basic literacy skills and technical education in order to accelerate the learner’s transition into and through a college-level career and technical education program of study.

10. WA I-BEST Model: Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training
A collaborative model in which basic skills and CTE faculty jointly teach, develop plans to achieve integrated program outcomes, jointly plan curricula, and jointly assess students’ learning and skill development.
I-BEST challenges traditional notions that students must complete all levels of Adult Basic Education before they can advance in workforce education training programs.
Students earn college-level credits that are part of a career pathway while at the same time as mastering critical basic skills identified by employers.

11. TEAM TEACHING IS THE CORE OF I-BEST
Team teaching and learning in a cohort
provides students with:
Twice the academic and content-specific support at no extra cost to the student
Targeted reading, writing, math, speaking and listening skills developed in an integrated and contextualized environment

12. Other Important Components of the I-BEST Model
Partnerships with local community-based organizations and other agencies to provide economic and social support services
Childcare
Housing
Transportation
Emergency Funds
Comprehensive Student Support Services
Navigation and Career Advising
Academic Advising
Financial aid advising

13. Research PROVEN SUCCESS
I-BEST students were more likely than others to:
Continue into credit-bearing coursework
I-BEST students were 90% likely to earn at least on college credit: non I-BEST were 67%
Earn a CTE certificate
Chances of earning a CTE certificate was 55% for I-BEST and 15% for non I-BEST
Make point gains on the NRS
62% of I-BEST made point gains on the CASAS vs 45% of non I-BEST learners
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 ; Davis Jenkins, Matthew Zeidenberg and Gregory Kienzl, 2009

14. I-BEST at Clover Park Technical College Mabel Edmonds Associate Vice President of Instruction

15. Clover Park Technical College Current Programs
Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) – Regular college program, 1 quarter, intensive; I-BEST program, 2 quarters; 50% overlap, ABE instructor for lecture classes and support
Chemical Dependency Specialist (CDS) – Same length as college program, 3 quarters; ABE instructor 50% overlap in all classes for support
Computer-Aided Design(CAD) – Same length as college program, 3 quarters; program reserves 6 spots in the regular program, each start for I-BEST students; ABE Instructor 50% overlap, helps all students as needed

16. Clover Park Technical College Program Qualifications
Age 19+
No GED or High School Diploma required
CASAS Score Range Reading and Math
Commitment to success

17. Clover Park Technical College Developmental Education I-BEST Pilot
Classes are academic bridge to help towards
degree completion.
Students can accelerate their pace through
levels of Developmental Education.
Classes are designed in modules.
Modules are contextualized for the I-BEST
Architectural CAD Drafting and Chemical
Dependency Specialist Programs.
Students move further and faster through pre-college
math and English into degree programs.

18. Clover Park Technical College On-Ramp to I-BEST Program
Intensive program for ABE and ESL students in Levels 1-3 to jumpstart their learning.
I-BEST model with team teacher.
Includes math and computers with intensive writing.
67% of students had at least a level gain in NRS levels in one quarter, 96% had at least a 5 point gain on CASAS scores.
Program model is community partnership with Tacoma/Pierce County Goodwill Industries.

19. Clover Park Technical College Challenges/Opportunities/Results
Navigator or I-BEST Specialist key to success.
Instruction team work on incorporating contextualized basic skills instruction and integrated instruction.
Funding sources identified – Self-Pay, Financial Aid, Opportunity Grant, TANF, WIA, Unemployment/WRT, Veteran’s Assistance.
Student experiences are positive, causing retention rates to be higher than traditional programs – 80% for I-BEST.
Programs provide pathway to Associate Degrees, if students wish to go beyond I-BEST certificate.
Programs require additional resources, but are benefit to students, college, and community…..Return on Investment (ROI).

20. Create Your Own I-BEST Program
Learning Outcomes and Assessments
Integrated Teaching
Campus Involvement
Community Engagement
Education and Career Pathways
Labor Market Demand
Student Success/Transition
Tracking

21. The Comprehensive I-BEST Pathway

22. I-BEST Resources The I-BEST Model I-BEST Renaissance 2013
I-BEST Research
I-BEST in the News
I-BEST Videos
Historical Resources
Contacts
Louisa Erickson Patricia Lange

23. Accelerate Texas Linda Leto Head Associate Vice Chancellor Workforce Education & Corporate Partnerships Nadezhda (Nadia) Nazarenko Executive Director College Preparation Programs Lone Star College System

24. State-wide initiative: 14 colleges participating state-wide
The mentor college approach to scaling the programs throughout the state  
Technical assistance: Jobs For the Future (JFF)
Evaluation team: Public Policy Research Institute from TX A&M.
Results state-wide:
Over 3000 served in CTE programs
2000 received a industry recognized credential
The top pathways:
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Transportation
Logistics
- The State started with 5 star colleges. Lone Star College was one of the first original colleges. There are now 14 colleges participating state-wide. 7 newest participants are funded by the THECB through The state approach is for the newer colleges to have a mentor college to help with the establishing and organizing the programs, understand the challenges as well as the successes of this approach to accelerated, relevant instruction.
- Three of the mentor colleges are working with colleges in their region that are not funded but who have expressed interest in building integrated career pathways programs:
HCC mentoring Galveston and Alvin,
STC mentoring Texas Southmost,
Amarillo mentoring Frank Phillips and Clarendon.
- JFF provides technical assistance to the mentor colleges and to THECB and works closely with the evaluation team.
- State statistics shows that over 3000 have been served so far in CTA programs with 2000 completing and receiving a national, state, level 1, or industry recognized credential in a demand or emerging occupation as identified by the area workforce board.

25. Accelerate Lone Star Goal: Creating pathways to careers and education
Target Population:
18 yrs. and older
Reading TABE test 6.0 grade level or higher
Writing, reading and/or math below 9.0 grade level
Accelerate Lone Star program is focusing on helping adults, who are under employed and or have had limited access to formal education, to complete short term workforce certificate programs that lead up to higher wages, educational pathways and a career. Our target population: underemployed and undereducated adults with minimum 5 to 6 grade reading level and below 9th grade in reading, writing and /or math. We created partnerships with multiple organizations, including:
Community Businesses: Durham industries, Conroe Welding supply , Park Manor nursing Home, Conroe Regional Hospital;
Non-profit organizations
ABE providers
Churches
Continuing Education
Developmental Education department
Credit advisors
DARS
Workforce Solutions

26. Our Model GED Credit course Employment Intervention as needed Advising
Tutoring
Employment
Intervention as needed
Advising
Intake and Advising
Obtain Certificate
GED
Workforce class
Concurrent Support class or GED class with College and Career Readiness
The model consists of multiple modules: The students start with Intake and initial advising: here they are tested and advised on various pathways, commitment required for the program, overview of their careers and goals. If admitted, they are placed into the Support class where they are receiving contextualized instruction in Math and/or language arts; and simultaneously enrolled into the workforce class. The advisors continue working with the students through the entire program and monitor their success. They determine if the students need immediate intervention in any area. If so the tutoring or any other intervention is provided. Upon completion of the program, the students obtain their certification and if ready they can also take the GED test and continue to Credit programs. If not ready for the GED yet, additional GED classes are provided. We have very robust GED program at LSCS, including in house testing centers and 4 annual graduations.
Credit course

27. Programs Programs of study Certified Nurse Aide Machining Welding
Phlebotomy
Accounting Assistant
ECG Monitoring Technician
We now have 6 programs and adding more as we speak: the newest one: Oil and Gas Floorhand. The distribution: most of the students are in healthcare (CNA, Phlebotomy and EKG) and Welding certification programs.

28. Pathways CONTINUING EDUCATION INTEGRATED PATHWAYS
Skill Levels: 6th to 9th grade
GED/HSD required: No
CE Nurse Aid Certificate to CR Vocational Nursing / Cr EMT Certificate
Welding CE Certificates to AAS Welding Technology Specialization
CE Machining
Certificates to CR Machinist I Certificate and CR Computer Numeric Control Operator/ Programmer II Certificate.
CE Phlebotomy (required GED or HSD) to CR Vocational Nursing / Cr EMT Certificate
Phlebotomy Cert. + C.N.A. Cert. + ECG Class + Professionalism in Health class= Patient Care Technician/CR Vocational Nursing / CR EMT Certificate
Sample of our pathways form CE to Credit and AAS degrees: The students who start with us, can continue to the next level as a part of the stackable certificates: CNA can lead them all the way to Vocational Nursing, for example.

29. Sample of a Stackable Credential
C.N.A. Cert.
Phlebotomy Cert.
ECG Class
Professionalism in Heath Class
Patient Care Technician
This visual is showing the components of a stackable certificate: The students start with CNA, add Phlebotomy, ECG and one additional course in Professionalism in Healthcare, and at the eand they are receiving Patient Care Technician Certification. This is certification is much in demand in our region and it takes less then a year to complete all components.

30. DATA 398 students served to date 57 in progress 366 completed (92%)
312 - (85%) successfully completed and received certificates
77% of those completed report finding employment in field or entering into more education

31. Successes High retention rate
Invited to implement program on other campuses
Mentoring other Texas colleges
Integration of credit classes (ENGL1301) with support classes for “bubble Students”
Cooperation with continuing education and credit advisors
Active learning environment through contextualized teaching

32. Student Testimonials http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVueu_0G_0w
The video shows our students testimonials.

33. Accelerating Opportunity Kansas Zoe Thompson Director, Workforce Training and Education Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Board of Regents

34. Accelerating Opportunity: Kansas
is all about jobs, prosperity for individuals and economic growth
for Kansas
JFF and all supporting philanthropies
So what are we doing in AO-K ? We’re delivering career technical education instruction at the same time as students receive instruction in foundational skills (adult basic skills) – in other words, teaching ABE courses alongside CTE courses utilizing joint instruction
We are fortunate to have a great partnership, both financially and through program support, with the Department of Commerce – they have contributed a significant amount of matching funds to this initiative, and they too see it as another tool for improving the Kansas economy. In addition to the Workforce Development and Adult Education units here at KBOR, and our Commerce partners, we also partner with our local workforce investment boards around the state. The Department for Children and Families is involved and the Department of Corrections is eager to be involved as well.
Kansas employers drives this initiative by identifying industry credentials in high demand, high wage sectors that lead to good paying jobs for credential seekers and graduates. Adults gain those skills at our Kansas community and technical institutions - with our LWIBS and DCF and others identifying employment needs - identifying where the pipeline is not full. All these partners are working to help adults move adults through career pathways on their way to credentials and jobs.

35. Why It’s Important to Kansas
237,000 Kansans lack high school diploma or GED or have less than 9th grade education
Another 60,000 limited proficiency English speakers
Total Kansas population 2,885,905*
Almost 10% OF TOTAL POPULATION we’re missing without targeting these adults
Look at all available populations to meet our workforce demands
Approximately half of the almost 300,000 adults that fall into these categories are from the more urban areas – Kansas City and Wichita. SEK is about 10%, about 20% from Topeka/Manhattan and the western region is about 20%
Supports Governor Brownback’s vision of:
Helping more people obtain employment
Moving more citizens from public assistance into family supporting wages
Ensuring Kansans have the skills to meet employer’s requirements
*US Census 2012

36. Disconnected Postsecondary Career Technical Programs
Traditional Adult Basic Education/GED Programs
Developmental Education
Postsecondary Career Technical Programs
Multiple loss points lead to low rates of program completion and credential attainment

37. Connected Pathways
Accelerated, Integrated Instruction of Basic Skills and Career Technical Skills
Stackable Credentials With Employer Value Lead to Jobs and Careers
Career Pathways Model Provides Educational and Social Supports
Simultaneous enrollment in adult ed and CTE
Team teaching – 25% min. overlap
Contextualized instruction
Career navigation
Transition coaching
Wrap around support services
Stackable credentials
Programs are high demand, with identified labor market need in the region
Jobs and Careers
Family Sustaining Wages
Adults Complete Programs and Earn College and Industry Credentials Leading to Careers

38. OVER 27 CAREER PATHWAYS AT 13 COLLEGES
Neosho Community College (includes Ft. Scott, Independence and Labette)
Aero structures
Emergency Medical Technician
Healthcare
Welding
Seward County Community College
Machine Tool Technology
Washburn Institute of Technology
Advanced Manufacturing
Wichita Area Technical College
Composites
Health Science
Machining Technology
Dodge City Community College
Building Construction Technology
Emergency Medical Technician
Healthcare
Welding
Garden City Community College
Fire Science
Highland Community College
Hutchinson Community College
Allied Health
Machining
Manufacturing
Kansas City Kansas Community College
Auto Collision
Auto Technology
Building and Property Maintenance
HVAC

39. Partnerships are the Key
Partnership between Board of Regents and Department of Commerce
Partnership with Department for Children and Families (TANF agency)
MOU supports AO-K (TANF eligible) enrolled students with tuition scholarships
Pays on COMPLETION of 12 credit hour pathway

40. Accelerating Opportunity Kansas Success

41. Accelerating Opportunity
       Major areas for industry recognized credentials: Healthcare (1,660); Welding (384); Aerostructures (292); Manufacturing/Machining (251); all other (155) •       Y3 really "just started" , so is only very last enrollments, not even including Jan 2014 numbers. Y1 Enrollments  1,069    Y2 Enrollments  994   Y3 Enrollments  657        Cumulative** =2,071 Y1College Certificates  184  Y2 College Certs 456 Y3 college certs  146 Cumulative =786 Industry Recognized Credentials Awarded Y1=1,191        Y2=1,086    Y3= 465 Cumulative=2, Credit Hour Pathway   Y1=341 Y2=450 Y3=198      Cumulative=989 Number Employed Y1=366   Y2=247  Y3=102  Cumulative=715 * All colleges not yet reporting  - we're still missing a couple of colleges ** Enrollment headcount is unduplicated Over 27 pathways at 13 colleges (are talking with four new colleges about joining -Flint Hills, Barton, MATC, JCCC - still VERY preliminary - don't know that I'd mention by name)
Dodge City Community College Building Construction Technology Emergency Medical Technician Healthcare Welding Garden City Community College Emergency Medical Technician Fire Science Healthcare Welding Highland Community College Welding Healthcare Hutchinson Community College Allied Health Machining Manufacturing Welding Kansas City Kansas Community College Auto Collision Auto Technology Building and Property Maintenance Healthcare HVAC Welding Neosho Community College (includes Ft. Scott, Independence and Labette) Aero structures Emergency Medical Technician Healthcare Welding Seward County Community College Healthcare Machine Tool Technology Washburn Institute of Technology Advanced Manufacturing Healthcare Wichita Area Technical College Aero structures Composites Health Science Machining Technology Welding

42. Policy Changes
Adult Education
Mission Statement includes “career pathways’ “Kansas workforce”, “adults achieving industry credentials” (2012)
Performance Based Funding Formula revamped to include transition to postsecondary as funded outcome (2013)
Dept Children & Families
Provides tuition scholarship for TANF eligible AO-K students completing 12 credit hour pathway (2013)
Kansas Adult Education is the first step in a career pathways system that meets the demands of the Kansas workforce for high skills and the needs of Kansas workers for high wages.
In order to support better quality of life for individuals and communities and prepare adults for achieving industry recognized credentials and college certificates, we provide high quality instruction and targeted student support services that are aligned with learner goals and available at times and places accessible to adults with jobs and families.
Additional information presented with Mission Statement at AO-K Peer Learning Meeting in July
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language are no longer foundational to, but separate from, postsecondary education. Instead, Adult Education is now a step in a career pathway for low-skilled adults that might take place at a school district, community based organization, or college. It is no longer separate from the postsecondary education that 65% of Kansas jobs will require by 2018.
To achieve this new mission, we will
Challenge our own and learners’ assumptions about their capability to enroll in and succeed in postsecondary education
Seek funding to help us meet the Foresight 2020 goal of increasing enrollment in Adult Education by 50%
Implement a new performance based funding formula that rewards these outcomes and provides incentives for contextualized and integrated instruction, for career awareness and transition coaching, and for co-enrollment in Career and Technical Education.

43. AO-K Video

44. MI-BEST: Maryland I-Best Faith Harland-White Dean Continuing and Professional Studies Anne Arundel Community College

45. Rationale for MI-BEST: Scope and Scale of the Education, Skills and Language Divide
80-90 million U.S. workers have at least one educational barrier
Language and literacy barriers prevent millions of adults— many with children—from skills and education for career- track jobs
By 2018, two-thirds of all jobs will require post-secondary credentials
Post-secondary, adult education and skills-training programs present barriers to entry and completion for older adults with low language and literacy levels
Demand: Adults currently working will be the primary source of employees until 2030, so low-skilled workers who increase their training and education can compete
Potential Solutions: Bridge programs that integrate skills training for adults with reading and math instruction have emerged as effective approaches
Platforms: Community colleges are innovating to better serve low-income, working adults who are often older, raising children and lacking literacy or English language skills
PROBLEMS
OPPORTUNITIES

46. Seizing the Opportunity
Take a Look at What You Already Have….. Differently
Step One:
Seizing the Opportunity
An Opportunity is an Opportunity….
…We started with a $25,000 exploratory grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation

47. Growing the Opportunity
Moved from planning to pilots
Step Two:
Growing the Opportunity
Co-funding from The Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Pilots launched in five Maryland Community Colleges to leverage public/private funding to establish the Maryland Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training program (MI-BEST)

48. Who Are MI-BEST Students?
Step Two
43% are parents supporting 313 children
54% immigrants, some college but low level English
Average Age:
30 Years
MI-BEST Goal: Reducing barriers to career pathways for adults with language, literacy and skills barriers (e.g. *Adult Basic Education and English as Second Language)
46% < high school diploma or GED
60% un/under employed

49. Scaling Up MI-BEST in Maryland Replication and Sustainability
Step Two
Replication: Two-thirds of 16 community colleges/
workforce investment boards (WIBs) partnering
Sustainability: Co-investment by the Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) to spread MIBEST across the state
2011
2013
Anne Arundel
Howard County
Baltimore City
Montgomery County
Baltimore County
Prince George’s County
Carroll County
Upper Shore (three counties)
Cecil County
Charles County
5 Community Colleges
0 WIBs
10 Community Colleges
10 WIBs
= Community Colleges
= WIBs

50. Accelerating Connections to Employment
Step Three:
Seizing a National Opportunity
United States Department of Labor Workforce Innovation Fund Competition
$11.8 million dollar grant awarded
The Partnership:
10 Community Colleges
9 Local Workforce Investment Boards
4 States
Federal funding launches the Accelerating Connections to Employment grant (ACE)
New element added: Randomization study

51. ACE Purpose & Unique Features
Step Three
Utilizes the proven I-BEST model to simultaneously teach and train individuals with low basic skills
Connects I-BEST training at community colleges with Career Navigators at the Workforce Investment Boards to ensure employment connections after training
Training courses chosen are driven by employer demand, with assured employment available at many sites
ACE includes a rigorous evaluation component, Random Control Trial (similar to pharmaceutical trials), to demonstrate effectiveness of combining I-BEST with targeted employment services

52. Role of Partnerships Step Four: Collective Impact
WIB/Community College Partnerships
Importance of Business Engagement
Businesses must be engaged from beginning to end
Potential business engagement:
Industry Roundtable
Program Design
Guest Speakers
Work Experience
Mock Interviews
Employment

53. Ultimate Goals
Identify strategies that are powerful enough to move the needle for large numbers of low-income individuals
Build evidence on what works and build capacity to implement with fidelity
Develop a roadmap to scale for different approaches: expanding an idea, innovation, tool, policy, program
Cultivate partners who “own” the result, who measure and track progress and will take up and sustain the work

54. Learning to Earn Approaches such as MI-BEST and ACE = Making a Difference
CNA Training
Building Maintenance
Baking and Pastry

55. Accelerating Connections to Employment
Step Three:
Seizing a National Opportunity
United States Department of Labor Workforce Innovation Fund Competition
$11.8 million dollar grant awarded
The Partnership:
10 Community Colleges
9 Local Workforce Investment Boards
4 States
Federal funding launches the Accelerating Connections to Employment grant (ACE)
New element added: Randomization study

56. Anne Arundel Graduation Ceremony and Student Testimonials
Celebrating
Success
Anne Arundel Graduation Ceremony and Student Testimonials

57. Questions? executivedirector@ncwe.org mabel.edmonds@cptc.edu