Basic Education for Adults
Change how you see the worldIBEST – INTEGRATED BASIC EDUCATION AND SKILLS TRAINING
Washington’s Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program (I-BEST) teaches students literacy, work, and college-readiness skills, placing them on the fast track to successfully move through school and into living wage jobs!
The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requires I-BEST programs to lead to jobs with a minimum starting wage of $16.24 per hour (as of 2024). Overall, I-BEST students who complete certificates and degrees earn more than these benchmarks. Students enroll in a wide range of high-demand I-BEST pathways in various technical fields.
I-BEST originated in Washington’s very own community and technical colleges and uses a team-teaching approach. Students work with two teachers in the classroom: one provides job-training and the other teaches basic skills in reading or math. Data, collected across the state of Washington, indicates that I-BEST students have a high success rate in course completion; this is largely due to the real-time help I-BEST students receive from two experts as they learn the material in the career field of their choice.
The I-BEST model is also used in academic transfer classes so students can brush up their skills as they learn college-level content toward a degree.
I-BEST shortens the sequence of pre-college courses students must move through before they can start working on certificates or degrees.
Who is eligible?
- Students under 19 must be formally released from high school before enrolling.
Course Options
Academic IBEST Courses:
- English
- Chemistry
- Math
Professional Technical IBEST courses:
- Allied Health
- Automotive
- Dental Therapy
- Early Childhood Education
- Human Services
- Manufacturing
- Welding
Contact Information
Lin Boydstun, Full Time Faculty and I-BEST coordinator
[email protected]