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In 1980, bussing low-income students to San Diego’s Clairemont High School created disruption at this suburban, middle class school. Expectations were low for these students. Many assumed they lacked parental support, motivation and study habits to qualify for college. Most teachers at the school thought such students would need a watered-down curriculum to graduate. English department head and teacher Mary Catherine Swanson thought differently. She believed that if the students were willing to work hard, she could teach them the skills needed to successfully complete the rigorous courses that would prepare them for four-year universities.
She was right. Despite resistance from her colleagues, AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, was born. Protests from her AVID students, complaining about the tedious work in keeping organized binders and taking copious notes, gave way to increased confidence in their abilities as they proved to the naysayers that they were indeed capable of academic success that would lead to college admission.
What began in that first class of 32 students now impacts nearly one million students from elementary through higher education. Today, AVID is the largest, most comprehensive college-readiness system used by schools to improve the academic preparation and performance of all students, especially those who are underrepresented in higher education institutions.
What is AVID?
What is AVID?
AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a schoolwide transformation effort focused on leadership, systems, instruction, and culture, and is designed to increase the number of students who enroll and succeed in higher education and in their lives beyond high school. The AVID College Readiness System is the only elementary through higher education instructional system (K–16), which allows for regional alignment that strengthens student potential for completion. AVID-trained educators teach students academic and social skills to help them develop the habits and behaviors needed to succeed in rigorous curriculum. The AVID College Readiness System is a catalyst for developing a school culture that closes the achievement, expectation, and opportunity gaps many students face, and it prepares all students for success in a global society. AVID membership can be funded through various federal, state and local sources.
Visit www.avid.org for resources about available funding
How AVID Works
How AVID Works
AVID training and resources help teachers improve student performance by embedding best teaching practices, encouraging self-advocacy, providing support, and building relationships that encourage student engagement. AVID is a leader in professional learning, training more than 25,000 educators each year. Opportunities include:
•Summer Institutes •National Conference
•Leadership trainings •Path (core content) trainings
Across all content areas, AVID’s research-based strategies and curriculum develops students’ academic skills, like reading, writing, and critical thinking, and academic behaviors, including organization, time management and goal setting.
AVID Impacts:
AVID Impacts:
Leadership
Leadership
Provides meaningful and motivational professional learning opportunities
Develops campus-based leadership through the AVID Site Team
Supports campus leadership in opening access
Develops family and community outreach
Systems
Systems
Addresses issues of access and equity
Increases vertical articulation
Increases enrollment in advanced academic courses
Provides data collection and analysis
Instruction
Instruction
Supports Common Core and other state standards
Develops students as readers and writers
Teaches specific strategies for critical and higher-level thinking
Utilizes WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) as a foundation for learning
Employs Socratic methodologies
Cultivates time management and goal-setting behaviors
Culture
Culture
Acts as a catalyst to improve the belief system, culture, and instructional strategies for all students
Provides support so students can meet high expectations
Empowers students with academic, career, and life skills
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