If America is to regain its economic footing and compete on the global financial stage, then it is imperative that it significantly increase the rate of postsecondary education and credential attainment among a vast segment of the population that is undereducated and untrained for 21st-century jobs. This challenge is even more pronounced in Mississippi, where a significant number of residents lack a high school credential or the skills necessary for family-supporting careers.
The Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB), in collaboration with the state’s 15 community and junior colleges, aims to address this challenge by scaling a statewide integrated career pathway initiative. Entitled the Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (MIBEST), this initiative primarily targets high school dropouts, low-income individuals, and other nontraditional students, accelerating their transition from basic skills education to postsecondary programs of study.
MIBEST quickly teaches students literacy, work, and college-readiness skills, enabling them to progress through school and into living-wage jobs more quickly.
