What Does AVID Stand For in Education?

AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a program designed to help students succeed in school and prepare for college.

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AVID’s Mission

AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other post-secondary opportunities. AVID does this by providing research-based curriculum and instructional strategies to empower students to succeed in rigorous academic environments. College and career readiness is essential for all students, and AVID’s holistic system supports students in every stage of their academic journey. From primary school to college completion, AVID gives students the tools and support they need to succeed.

AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other post-secondary opportunities.

AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other post-secondary opportunities. AVID does this by providing a rigorous curriculum and supportive system in schools so that all students, especially those traditionally underrepresented in higher education, can succeed.

AVID’s History

AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a nonprofit organization that aims to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other forms of higher education. AVID was founded in 1980 by Mary Catherine Swanson, a teacher in San Diego, California. Swanson observed that many of her low-achieving students had the potential to succeed if they were given the right tools and opportunities.

AVID was founded in 1980 by Mary Catherine Swanson

AVID was founded in 1980 by Mary Catherine Swanson, a high school English teacher who saw the potential for all students to achieve success in school and in life. AVID is an acronym for Advancement via Individual Determination.

AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other meaningful opportunities. AVID does this by providing rigorous curriculum, intensive support, and professional learning opportunities to teachers and schools worldwide.

Since its inception, AVID has served over four million students in 48 states and 16 countries. AVID’s impact can be seen in the lives of its students, who are more likely to enroll in college and persist through graduation.

AVID has grown from 8 original pilot schools to over 5,000 schools in 46 states and 16 countries

AVID’s growth is a story of expanding access and opportunity for students. Initially developed to increase the number of students prepared to enter—and succeed in—college-level courses, AVID is now implemented in elementary, middle, and high schools around the world.

The AVID Center was founded in 1980 by Mary M. Kennedy, then a teacher at Clairemont High School in San Diego, California. Ms. Kennedy saw potential in her students who had the desire to go to college but not the academic skills necessary to succeed there. With the help of district and community leaders, she developed and piloted AVID’s College Readiness System in eight pilot schools.

Over the next several years, AVID expanded within California and to schools across the United States. In 1999, AVID went global, with programs implemented in Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, and Singapore—and today there are AVID programs operating in 16 countries on five continents.

With continued growth comes increased responsibility and accountability for ensuring that all students receive an equitable education that prepares them for college and career success. To that end, rigorous studies conducted by external research organizations have shown that AVID makes a significant positive impact on student achievement as well as on schoolwide culture and climate.

What AVID Does

AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a nonprofit that provides educators with resources and training to support underrepresented students in their pursuit of education and careers. AVID’s approach is research-based and data-driven, and aims to support students in developing the skills they need to be successful in college and beyond.

AVID provides a rigorous curriculum and support system that helps students succeed in college and other post-secondary opportunities.

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a global nonprofit organization that provides educators with the resources and support they need to help all students succeed in college and other post-secondary opportunities.

AVID’s approach is based on the research that shows that there are three essential elements for student success: a rigorous curriculum, effective teaching and learning strategies, and supportive relationships. When these elements are present in the classroom, all students have the opportunity to succeed.

AVID provides educators with training in effective teaching and learning strategies, as well as curriculum resources and support from AVID site coordinators. AVID also develops and supports a network of AVID schools where educators work together to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed.

AVID’s curriculum is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and the College and Career Readiness Standards.

AVID’s curriculum is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and the College and Career Readiness Standards. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, and its mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other post-secondary opportunities. AVID does this by providing a rigorous curriculum, engaging instruction, and support services that help students succeed in school and beyond.

AVID’s support system includes professional development for educators, tutoring, and mentoring.

AVID’s support system includes professional development for educators, tutoring, and mentoring. AVID also has a network of schools across the country that have implemented AVID strategies and are available to help new AVID sites.

How AVID Works

AVID, or Advancement via Individual Determination, is a global nonprofit organization that operates with the mission of closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other post-secondary opportunities. AVID does this through its four pillars: partnerships, professional learning, leadership, and student success. To learn more about how AVID operates, read on.

AVID’s curriculum is delivered through a four-step process: inquiry, collaboration, reading, and writing.

Inquiry: Students learn how to ask probing questions, think critically, and develop research skills.

Collaboration: Students learn how to work together in teams and share their ideas.

Reading: Students learn how to read complex texts and develop reading comprehension skills.

Writing: Students learn how to write clearly and effectively communicate their ideas.

AVID’s support system is delivered through a three-tiered model: school-wide, classroom, and individual.

AVID’s support system is delivered through a three-tiered model: school-wide, classroom, and individual.

The school-wide tier is designed to ensure all students have access to the rigor and support necessary for college and career readiness. To accomplish this, AVID trains school site teams composed of administrators, teachers, counselors, and other staff members in the implementation of systems, structures, and instructional methodologies that are evidence-based and research-proven to be effective in closing the achievement gap.

The classroom tier is where AVID’s pedagogy is implemented on a daily basis. In an AVID Elective class, teachers use inquiry-based learning techniques within their content area to engage all students in critical thinking and problem solving. While substance is emphasized, equal importance is placed on developing the skills essential for success in any field: collaboration, writing, reading, and organization. Students also receive direct instruction in study skills and college preparation behaviors.

The final tier of support occurs at the individual level through weekly one-on-one or small group tutorials led by trained tutorial leaders—typically college students or retired professionals—who assist students with planning and organization, clarify concepts learned in class, monitor progress on assignments, provide encouragement, and role model positive behavior.

AVID’s Impact

AVID, which stands for Advancement via Individual Determination, is a program designed to help students in the middle of the academic pack succeed in college and beyond. The program has shown to have a positive impact on students, especially those who come from low-income or first-generation college families.

AVID has helped over two million students succeed in college and other post-secondary opportunities.

Since it was founded in 1980, the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program has helped over two million students succeed in college and other post-secondary opportunities. The program works with schools to provide support and resources to students who are underserved and underrepresented in higher education. AVID’s College Readiness System enhances teaching and learning in the classroom, while also providing students with social and emotional support. The program has been shown to increase graduation rates, college enrollment rates, and test scores.

AVID’s impact has been proven through research conducted by the US Department of Education and independent researchers.

Since its inception in 1980, AVID’s impact has been proven through research conducted by the US Department of Education and independent researchers. More than half a million students have participated in AVID elective classes, and AVID has been implemented in all 50 states and 19 countries.

The US Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviewed four studies on AVID and found that AVID had mixed effects on academic achievement, with two studies finding positive effects and two finding no effect. The WWC also reviewed two studies on AVID’s impact on college enrollment and found that AVID had a positive effect in one study and no effect in the other.

Independent researchers have also conducted several rigorous evaluations of AVID, finding positive impacts on academic achievement and college enrollment. For example, a 2016 study published in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis (EEPA) found that AVID had positive effects on GPAs, course grades, credit accumulation, and test scores for middle school students. Additionally, a 2011 study published in the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR) found that high school students who participated in AVID were more likely to enroll in college than their peers who did not participate in the program.

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