Group items tagged

The study provides evidence on the potential efficacy of a contextualized intervention approach to helping students develop an important academic skill, written summarization. (Center for Community College Research, January 2012)

Summarizes the objectives of and lessons learned from Washington's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) program. The program pairs English as a second language (ESL)/adult basic education (ABE) instructors and professional-technical instructors in the classroom to concurrently provide students with literacy education and workforce skills. (Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, December 2005)

Looks at the current demographic realities and the need to better serve adult students. Offers some policy and strategic recommendations to include career pathways, contextualized instruction for basic skills, etc.

Explores barriers adult basic education students face in obtaining postsecondary credentials. The authors offer suggestions to policymakers that can be used to improve the outcomes for ABE students based on lessons learned from three state-level policy initiatives: Bridges to Opportunity, Breaking Through and Shifting Gears. The paper also provides specific suggestions for federal support of similar efforts. (James Jacobs & Pamela Tolbert-Bynum -Community College Research Center, Columbia University, June 2008)

Under the I-BEST model, basic skills instructors and college-level career-technical faculty jointly design and teach college-level occupational courses for adult basic skills students in both these areas. This paper presents findings from a study on the o

Wonderful research on the success of the I-BEST model. I-BEST is maybe the best example on how to effectively use data to assess the need for reform and the impact of the reform. It is a model that other states should consider strongly.

From CLASP: Beyond Basic Skills describes strategies that can be used to strengthen connections between basic skills education and postsecondary education to help lower-skilled adults and out-of-school youth attain the postsecondary credentials they need to advance in the labor market. This includes state-level innovations such as: instructional strategies that provide a strong foundation in occupational skills required for jobs in the local economy; acceleration strategies that help students progress further and more quickly in education and training programs in a shorter period of time than traditional approaches, and funding formulas, assessment policies, and other administrative policies that support a statewide vision to provide adults and youth with pathways to better jobs through postsecondary education. The report also includes examples of states and local institutions that are effectively implementing one or more of these innovations.

Report from CLASP for policymakers on how to link basic skills instruction to postsecondary attainment

This analysis focuses on four different types of interventions for improving students' progress through remedial education and into college-level courses, including (1) strategies that help students avoid developmental education by shoring up their skills before they enter college; (2) interventions that accelerate students' progress through developmental education by shortening the timing or content of their courses; (3) programs that provide contextualized basic skills together with occupational or college-content coursework; and (4) programs that enhance the supports for developmental level learners, such as advising or tutoring.