Study Details | Pathways to Work

101011-Study of Mississippi

Study quality:

Moderate

Reason for the rating: This study received a moderate study quality rating because it is a quasi-experimental design that establishes that the program and comparison groups are similar at baseline and adjusts impact estimates to account for any minor differences in the groups.

Program: Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program (MIBEST)

Characteristics of study participants:

Less than a high school diploma or equivalent

Services provided:

Case management, Childcare and/or early education, Integrated education and training, Job search assistance, Occupational or sectoral training, Transportation assistance

Setting: Tested in multiple settings

Methods and Standards Protocol version used for review: Version 2.0

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Study design

Design:

Quasi-experimental design

Study group formation:

Students who participated in Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program (MIBEST) were matched to students who were similar on test scores, demographics, and timing of postsecondary enrollment in administrative data. A total of 3,266 individuals were included in the study, with 1,633 MIBEST participants matched to 1,633 adult education students as a comparison group.

Time period of 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.

Primary outcome domains examined:

Increase short-term earnings, Increase long-term earnings, Increase education and training

Study funded by:

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation funded the study.

Results

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Outcome domain	Measure	Timing	Study quality by finding	Impact	Units	Sample size
Increase short-term earnings	Quarterly earnings	Quarter 6	Moderate	517.87	2019 dollars	3,266
Increase long-term earnings	Quarterly earnings	Quarter 9	Moderate	746.00	2019 dollars	3,266
Increase education and training	Number of Associates of Applied Science degrees earned	Month 24	Moderate	0.02	count	3,266
Increase education and training	Number of technical certificates earned	Month 24	Moderate	0.06	count	3,266
Increase education and training	Number of vocational certificates earned	Month 24	Moderate	0.15	count	3,266

Short-term outcomes are those measured 18 months or fewer after participants are first offered services. Long-term outcomes are those measured between 18 months and 5 years after participants are first offered services. Very long-term outcomes are those measured 5 years or more after participants are first offered services.

Means are not displayed when not reported or not aligned with the impact estimates. For example, if the impact estimate is regression-adjusted but only unadjusted means are reported in the study, the unadjusted means are not displayed as they are not aligned with the adjusted impact estimate.

Impact estimates are not shown when the estimate units cannot be converted to natural units.

Findings quality key:

High
Moderate

Study quality terms?

The findings quality describe our confidence that a given study’s finding is because of the program. We do not display findings that rate low.

Findings key:

A moderate-to-large favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A moderate-to-large favorable finding that might to be due to chance
A small favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A small favorable finding that might be due to chance
A favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A favorable finding that might be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A moderate-to-large unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A moderate-to-large unfavorable finding that might to be due to chance
A small unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A small unfavorable finding that might be due to chance
An unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
An unfavorable finding that might be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size or direction
A finding of no effect that might be due to chance

Favorable findings are impacts in a direction that is socially desirable. Statistical significance indicates the likelihood that a study finding is due to the program, rather than due to chance. Findings are described as moderate-to-large if the program produced a sufficiently large change in the outcome. An impact receives this designation if the standardized effect size is equal to or greater than 0.25 or equal to or less than -0.25.

Sample characteristics

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 not have a high school diploma or equivalent or have this credential but 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.

Age

Mean age

26 years

Sex

Female	54%
Male	46%

Race and ethnicity

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

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.

Education

Had a high school diploma or GED	9%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	91%

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

Mississippi Community College Board

Program history:

Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program (MIBEST) began in 2015 with a grant award, prior to start of the evaluation.

Program services:

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. Participants concurrently received both basic education and technical instruction and were not required to first have a high school credential. 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.

Mandatory services:

None

Comparison services:

Adult education students who did not receive MIBEST were matched to students who received MIBEST based on test scores, demographics, and timing of postsecondary enrollment. Students in the comparison group could receive standard services available from their educational institutions and communities.

Service receipt duration:

The study did not describe the duration of program services.

Program funding:

The Kellogg Foundation provided a grant award to implement MIBEST in 15 community colleges in the state with a matching grant from the state Workforce Enhancement Training fund.

Study publications

Briggs, Amanda, Daniel Kuehn, Nathan Sick, Christin Durham, Theresa Anderson, and Semhar Gebrekristos (2022). Findings from the Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program. Urban Institute. Available at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/Findings%20from%20the%20Mississippi%20Integrated%20Basic%20Education%20and%20Skills%20Training%20Program.pdf

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Study of Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program (MIBEST)