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POSTED: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009

BTC receives federal grant to redesign adult basic education program

BELLINGHAM - Bellingham Technical College will redesign its Adult Basic Education program over the next year, thanks to a $350,000 federal grant.

The two-year grant will enable the college to help students who need basic skills to be more successful earning a degree and certificate before they move on to a career. Depending on results, the school might receive an additional $150,000 the third year.

"Our data showed us that retention and transition rates for basic skills were (low)," said Susan Parker, associate dean and interim Tech Prep director at BTC. "It's a serious problem that our basic skills students are dropping out of pipeline. ... This grant is all about figuring out ways of addressing those issues and doing a pretty holistic overhaul of the program."

The grant is from the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education.

The Adult Basic Education program helps students with basic reading, writing and math, as well as preparation for the GED and college-placement tests. According to Parker's data, only about 13 to 16 percent of those students transfer into college-level courses each year, and an even smaller number end up earning a certificate or degree.

The revamped program will still offer assistance with basic skills, but with new emphasis on computer literacy and on teaching students how to learn through better study skills. There also will be more career exploration, giving students an opportunity to learn what jobs are out there, what skills are needed for them, and what job placement rates are.

"If people feel like they're working towards something, they're more likely to stick with a program of study," Parker said.

The grant will also enable BTC to provide a case manager for each student, to help them through hurdles that might otherwise cause them to leave school.

A faculty group will help monitor the program, track students' progress and develop ways to ensure the changes continue after the grant runs out. An outside evaluator will help BTC track the program's progress.

The college is one of two organizations in the state to receive the grant, and one of 29 in the country.

"We were thrilled to receive this grant," Parker said. "This just really helps us realize some of our goals in a tough budget time."