About I-BEST
In the spring of 2004, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges’ (SBCTC) Offices of Adult Basic Education and Workforce Education began a demonstration project at ten community colleges called Integrated Basic Education Skills Training (I-BEST). The I-BEST approach creates classroom teams of English as a second language (ESL)/adult basic education (ABE) instructors and professional-technical instructors, who co-teach an integrated course of language and vocational skills training at the same time.
The I-BEST approach includes having two instructors in the classroom at the same time. I-BEST also seeks to support students through advising, tutoring, and mentoring; and to eliminate some of the obstacles faced by its students, including childcare and transportation. I-BEST administrators stress that an essential component of the I-BEST approach is substantial and intentional planning before, during, and after the program.
A goal of the program is to ensure that I-BEST programs are a part of professional-technical programs that extend to at least one year of college training and result in a credential, as research has shown that those goals result in the most significant gains in the labor market.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Community/Technical College Programs
Big Bend Community College
- Commercial Driver License Training
Contact: Sandy Cheek, Director of Basic Skills; sandyc@bigbend.edu or 509.793.2305
Grays Harbor College
- Diesel Equipment Technology
Contact: Tricia McIntosh, I-BEST Facilitator; tmcintos@ghc.edu or 360.533.9448
Highline Community College
- Customer Service Certificate
Contact: Sue Ackley, Referral & Resource Center; sackley@highline.edu or 206.878-3710 ext. 3484
South Puget Sound Community College
- Customer Service Specialist
Contact: Crystal Ashley, I-BEST Coordinator; cashley@spscc.ctc.edu or 360.596-5504
Tacoma Community College
- Transportation and Secure Logistics Certificate
Contact: Rebecca Jayasundara; rjayasun@tacomacc.edu or 253.566.5229
Program Applications
- Commercial Truck Driving
- Diesel Technology
Sample Syllabi
The Center of Excellence is currently working to collect sample syllabi for these programs, so check back soon!
Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation, and Logistics PO Box 98000 Des Moines, WA 98198 (206) 870-4838
Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation, and Logistics
PO Box 98000
Des Moines, WA 98198
(206) 870-4838
Center of Excellence for Global Trade & Supply Chain Management
(formerly International Trade, Transportation, and Logistics)
2400 S 240th Street, MS 99-1
(206) 592-4484