business backgrounder | employment & workplace
“This was a cultural change for college campuses,” said Jon Kerr, director of adult education for SBCTC. “Instead of years
of a student being in basic education or English as a second language courses, we integrate these basic skills in college credit
skills that directly relate to the skills needed in their career.”
A simple enough shift — but it was a significant change for the state’s community and technical colleges, where different
courses and programs were in various departments that were disjointed and territorial.
“Adult education is one of the three primary missions for the state community and technical colleges. The community and
technical college system was created in order to bring adult basic educators and technical colleges together with community
colleges in order to meet Washington’s needs for a skilled workforce,” said Kerr. “I-BEST helped make the vision a reality for
both schools and the students.”
“When people look around
to different adult education
programs, they’ve come to the
same conclusion that I-BEST is
the one that really works.”
i-best @ work
In the past few years community
and technical colleges have used
the I-BEST model to strengthen
their relationships with local businesses. One of these relationships
is between Big Bend Community
College and ConAgra Foods Lamb
— Kathy Cooper, policy associate of Basic
Weston in Warden.
Education for the Washington State Board
Lamb Weston is a food profor Community & Technical Colleges.
cessor specializing in processing
potatoes. They also faced a problem: Several of Lamb Weston’s employees were in
need of technical skills training. However, many of them were native Spanish speakers who also were in need of English as a second language courses.
With this in mind, Big Bend Community College and Lamb Weston came together
to develop an I-BEST program that worked around employee schedules and contextualized their English language education around technical language they face on the
job. This not only taught the enrollees skills, it also had a positive impact on Lamb
Weston’s business in ways unforeseen.
“Because of face-to-face and online learning, Lamb Weston was able to quantify
the value of their I-BEST at work program,” said Cooper. “For example, the Lamb
Weston employees enrolled in the program created safety videos and materials in
both Spanish and English that dramatically improved safety at the plant.”
Because of their involvement with I-BEST, Lamb Weston has increased their
investment and commitment to their workers education. The company has even
purchased computers and tablets to aid in their employees’ education.
going national
I-BEST is also a program that has drawn national interest. The model has been
adapted in 24 states around the nation. It has been the subject of several intensive
”Adult education is one of the three primary missions for the
state community and technical colleges. The community and
technical college system was created in order to bring ABE and
technical colleges together with community colleges in order to
meet Washington’s needs for a skilled workforce. I-BEST helped
make the vision a reality for both schools and the students.”
— Jon Kerr, director of adult education for the Washington State
Board for Community & Technical Colleges.
One out of every six
people in Washington
lacks the basic reading,
writing and math skills
to get living-wage jobs and
meet the needs of employers.
at a glance
With the baby boomer generation retiring
and more advanced technologies in the
workplace the employment and income gaps
between skilled and non-skilled workers is
growing at an alarming rate.
To combat this, the Washington community
and technical college system developed the
Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training
(I-BEST) program to help adult workers.
The I-BEST program offers a great deal of
flexibility, customization team-taught instruction that helps any adult in Washington
state — including adu