I-BEST wows during higher education work session

During a Wednesday work session, the House Higher Education Committee heard powerful testimony about I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) from students and staff.

Kathy Cooper, SBCTC basic skills policy associate, said, “I-BEST is without question the most celebrated adult basic education delivery method in the country right now. We’ve had the honor of hearing the president of the United States say, ‘Shouldn’t we do more of that I-BEST stuff they’re doing in Washington?’”

She described the I-BEST delivery method, which pairs a basic skills (adult basic education or English as a second language) instructor with an instructor in a specific workforce training area.  Created in response to the Tipping Point Research, I-BEST helps learners with the longest path reach success, by helping them reach at least 45 credits and a credential.

The program began with a little bit of money and a five-college pilot in 2005-06 and has since expanded to include all 34 colleges.

John Kerr, Lower Columbia College dean of instructional programs, described how the contextual nature of the I-BEST method lets students feel empowered for perhaps the first time ever in their academic careers.  Lower Columbia also offers I-TRANS, which prepares basic skills students for college level English and transfer readiness.

 “The I-BEST revolution has initiated a qualitative change in how adults and developmental education students move ahead,” he said.

Condale Scott, Lower Columbia College I-BEST I-TRANS student, described his lackluster academic background. He finished high school, but did not graduate because of a science test.

“I did not do well in high school, I was not a good student,” he said. “I-BEST opened my horizons.”

“We work together in groups,” he said. “The teachers help you understand there is more to life than playing basketball. The teachers are caring, supportive and they hold you accountable to learn and be disciplined.”

Mandy Pastor, Lower Columbia College I-BEST I-TRANS student who aspires to teach, graduated from high school. “But I was a C or D student, dreading college,” she said, describing how she placed into a lower level English course.

During that class, a teacher saw her potential, pulled her aside and suggested I-TRANS, telling her “this will be one of the hardest classes you will ever take, but with enough hard work you can do it.”

“I finished the class, moving through five levels of English and earned an ‘A’ in English 101. I even got an English department award,” she said. “Every class I have taken since then, I use what I learned in my I-BEST classes.”

“Now, I am [earning A’s and B’s] and I love college. It’s helping me personally, too.”

“I want to teach students who were like me. I-BEST has a ripple effect. It’s helped not just locally but internationally,” she said. “I went to Haiti to help out and I taught their teachers the teaching skills I learned in I-BEST.”

Rep. Susan Fagan, R-Pullman, said, “I am impressed when I hear about your transformation.”  She asked whether it was the program itself or if the students were at a place where they were ready to change.

“No, it wasn’t that I was ready to change,” said Pastor. “I knew how to jump through the hoops, work the system. What helped was the change in what my teachers were telling me about being able to succeed.”

“I wanted to do better, I wanted to change my life,” Scott said. “The cohort model, the students supporting each other make a difference. We get close in the 10 weeks.  It’s like we have 27 teachers – 25 classmates and two instructors.”

“We are smart,” he said. “A lot of people are smart. They just don’t have the skills to get through college.”

Rep. Judith Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said, “It sounds like the program introduces healthy dose of reality.”

“I actually did redshirt [onto the basketball team], but I am 5’ 9,’ ” Scott said to laughter in the gallery. “Being in I-BEST gave me more of a sense of reality. I am interested in majoring in communications. Now, I am having fun in the classroom, putting the things I have learned to use.”

Rep. Tim Probst, D-Vancouver, said, “You both make me really proud. It’s all about you and your success story.”

“This program didn’t begin with legislative intent. We rarely come up with the best ideas,” commented Rep. Chris Reykdal, D-Olympia. “During times of budget contraction, is it best to figure out how to incent colleges and allow flexibility? And, yes, it is the faculty making a difference. So wouldn’t it be worth it to know they have their step increases?”

Tune in for the students’ moving testimony at TVW. The I-BEST portion starts at the 25 minute mark, with students starting at 41 minutes in.

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Innovation Account bill moves forward

Second Substitute House Bill 1909 passed out of the House Rules committee and is waiting for a Senate hearing.

Prime sponsored by Rep. Chris Reykdal, D-Olympia, the bill creates the Community and Technical College Innovation Account to implement the Strategic Technology Plan and improve student achievement, student services, and increase system-wide administrative efficiencies.

• Creates the Community and Technical College Innovation Account to implement the Strategic Technology Plan for improving student achievement and efficiency in the community and technical college system.
• Directs community and technical colleges to transfer up to 3 percent of operating fees to the Community and Technical College Innovation Account.
• Authorizes expenditures from the Community and Technical College Innovation Account for projects that implement the community and technical college system's Strategic Technology Plan or to pay off debt for financing contracts authorized by the Legislature.
• Removes the requirement for community and technical colleges to round tuition and fees to the nearest dollar amount.
• For large Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects, the Legislature must approve a business plan and:
• The system must engage in substantial business process reengineering efforts.
• Adopt system-wide approaches to admissions, financial aid, student identification numbers, transcripts, and other system-wide processes.

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Senate bill expands WSU into Everett

On Wednesday night, the Senate passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5636, which would hand over management and leadership of the University Center at Everett Community College to Washington State University, effective July 1, 2014.

Among other things, the bill requires the director of the University Center to report to the WSU’s president.

Meanwhile, House Bill 1792 awaits action on the House floor. HB 1792 directs WSU to draft a strategic plan, but does not hand the center over to WSU.

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Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Substitute Senate Bill 5664, prime sponsored by Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, directs Lake Washington Technical College to change its name to Lake Washington Institute of Technology.  The bill passed out of the Senate Rules Committee and is awaiting consideration in House Higher Education.

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Students attending less than part-time to be Need Grant eligible

Substitute House Bill 1650, prime sponsored by Rep. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle, has moved out of the House Rules Committee and has been referred to the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. Under this bill, students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least three quarter credits (or the equivalent semester hours) in a qualifying higher education program are eligible for the State Need Grant.  

This policy was tested with a temporary pilot for the last four years and this bill would make the eligibility status permanent. The pilot served more than 4,000 students each year, with most of the students temporarily reducing their course loads due to work, family, or other commitments and then returning to regular credit loads.

Bills of significance

More bill updates.

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