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Summary

Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program (MIBEST) provided training with team teaching and support services that were designed to prepare students for high-demand occupations, enabling them to earn a high school credential while working toward certificates, degrees, and gainful employment.

The team-teaching approach provided participants basic education and technical instruction concurrently. Participants were not required to have a high school credential to engage in the program. Support services included one-on-one college and career navigation; work readiness training; job search and placement supports; and assistance with food, child care, and transportation needs.

Eligible students were at least 17 years old, Mississippi residents, and either did not have a high school diploma or equivalent or had this credential but had low academic skill levels. The program was implemented at 15 community colleges statewide in Mississippi.

101011-Study of Mississippi
Populations and employment barriers: Less than a high school diploma or equivalent

Effectiveness rating and effect by outcome domain

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Outcome domain Term Effectiveness rating Effect in 2024 dollars and percentages Effect in standard deviations Sample size
Increase earnings Short-term Supported favorable $3,791 per year 0.104 3266
Long-term Supported favorable $5,431 per year 0.149 3266
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase employment Short-term Cannot assess support
Long-term Cannot assess support
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Decrease benefit receipt Short-term Cannot assess support
Long-term Cannot assess support
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase education and training All measurement periods Little evidence to assess support 0% (in percentage points) 0.000 0

Effectiveness ratings

  • Well- supported
  • Supported
  • Mixed support
  • Not supported
  • Insufficient evidence
  • Cannot assess support

Studies of this program

Study quality rating Study counts per rating
Moderate Moderate 1
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Implementation details

Dates covered by study

The study used administrative data for students enrolled in MIBEST spanning January 2016 to December 2019 matched to administrative records for adult education students over the same time period. The average follow-up period was 24 months.

Organizations implementing program

Mississippi Community College Board; 15 community colleges

Populations served

MIBEST was a voluntary program that served individuals with low incomes who were 17 years and older without a high school credential and other nontraditional students. In addition to age requirements, eligible students had to be Mississippi residents and either did not have a high school diploma or equivalent or had this credential but had low academic skill levels. Most participants did not have a high school diploma or GED (91 percent). The majority of participants (54 percent) were female, and the average age at enrollment was 26 years. Average quarterly earnings at enrollment were $1,296.

Description of services implemented

MIBEST provided training with team teaching and support services that were designed to prepare students for high-demand occupations, enabling them to earn a high school credential while working toward certificates, degrees, and gainful employment. Services for participants included:

  • Integrated career pathways. MIBEST provided concurrent instruction in both contextualized basic skills and technical instruction using a team-teaching approach.
  • Support services. Academic, financial, and personal support services were provided, including food, child care, and transportation assistance.

In addition, participating colleges were required to implement several components, including:

  • Staffing. Colleges were required to have a MIBEST project coordinator and a full-time MIBEST navigator.
  • Policies. College policies had to allow students without a high school credential to have concurrent enrollment in both adult education and college courses. Colleges were required to offer these integrated programs in at least two high-demand occupations. The colleges also had to implement acceleration strategies, such or online/hybrid learning or credit for prior learning.
  • Supports. Colleges had to provide proactive advising, support services, and work-based learning opportunities.
  • Services. Colleges were required to use team teaching for at least 25 percent of MIBEST instructional time and to include a minimum of 20 hours of work-readiness or life-skills training.

Service intensity

The study did not provide information about the service intensity of MIBEST.

Comparison conditions

The comparison group was students who did not receive MIBEST and were matched on test scores, demographics, and timing of postsecondary enrollment.

Partnerships

The study did not discuss any partners for delivering MIBEST.

Staffing

Each community college offering MIBEST had to provide a project director and a full-time MIBEST navigator.

Fidelity measures

The study did not discuss any tools to measure fidelity to the program model.

Funding source

The W. K. Kellogg Foundation (Kellogg Foundation) funded the first phase of MIBEST in 2016. In 2019, the second phase of MIBEST was funded through Kellogg Foundation funding at three colleges and a mix of local, state, and federal funds at other colleges.

The information contained here reflects how the program was implemented at the time of the evaluation.

Local context

The Mississippi Community College Board led the MIBEST initiative, which was implemented at 15 community colleges statewide in Mississippi.

Characteristics of research participants
Black or African American
42%
White, not Hispanic
50%
American Indian or Alaska Native
2%
More than one race
2%
Unknown, not reported, or other
3%
Hispanic or Latino of any race
2%

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if the authors reported race and ethnicity separately; in these cases, we report the category White, rather than White, not Hispanic.

State(s) where implemented

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Canada

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