An Introduction to AVID: John F. Kennedy High School Fremont, CA An Introduction to AVID: The Road to College

The Mission of AVID AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. Tim

What AVID Is AVID = Advancement Via Individual Determination A direct support structure for students’ academic and career success. A structured, college preparatory system working directly with schools and districts. A schoolwide approach to curriculum and rigor adopted by nearly 4,500 schools in 45 states and 15 countries. A professional development program providing training throughout the world. AVID strategies support the Common Core State Standards.

What AVID Isn’t AVID isn’t a remedial program AVID isn’t a free ride AVID isn’t a niche program AVID isn’t a college outreach program

AVID at JFKHS AVID began at JFKHS in 2007. JFKHS is a certified (the only one in FUSD) AVID school. The AVID Elective classes are offered at grade levels 9-12. 2014-2015 will be the first year when there will be two class sections of AVID at each grade level (55-60 per grade level) and over 200 students enrolled. 100% of our AVID Senior Seminar students have been accepted into four-year colleges since the class of 2011. The class of 2013 had over 100 college acceptances for 20 students. Many JFKHS teachers and counselors have participated in AVID training and are on the AVID Site Team.

The AVID Student Profile Students With Academic Potential: Average to high test scores 2.0-3.5 GPA (the “academic middle”) College potential with support Desire and determination Meets One or More of the Following Criteria: First to attend college Historically underserved in four-year colleges Low income Special circumstances

AVID Program Essentials AVID student selection Voluntary participation AVID elective class offered during the school day Rigorous course and study Writing and reading curriculum Inquiry to promote critical reading Collaboration Trained tutors Data collection and analysis District and school commitment Active and interdisciplinary site team

A Sample Week in the AVID Elective Daily or Block Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday AVID Curriculum Tutorials Binder Evaluation Field Trips Media Center Speakers Motivational Activities (within block) Combination for Block Schedule Combination for block schedule AVID Curriculum Includes: Writing Curriculum College and Careers Strategies for Success Critical Reading AVID Tutorials Include: Collaborative Study Groups Writing Groups Socratic Seminars

AVID 9-12: WICOR

AVID 11-12: WICOR + Essential Skills for College Readiness (ASFI) *Research and Writing Assignments Focused on Leadership

Meeting the Challenge To help all students do rigorous work and meet or exceed high standards in each content area we must help students: Develop as readers and writers. Develop deep content knowledge. Know content specific strategies for reading, writing, thinking and talking. Develop habits, skills, and behaviors to use knowledge and skills.

What is Academic Rigor? Rigor is the goal of helping students develop the capacity to understand content that is complex, ambiguous, provocative, and personally or emotionally challenging. Taking rigorous courses opens doors! Source: Teaching What Matters Most; Standards and Strategies for Raising Student Achievement by Strong, Silver and Perini, ASCD, 2001.

Why AVID Works Places AVID students in rigorous curriculum and gives them the support to achieve; Provides the explicit “hidden curriculum” of schools; Provides a team of students for positive peer identification; and Redefines teacher’s role as that of student advocate.

Ethnic Breakdown of AP Test-takers AVID vs. National 2012-2013. Study of 33,219 AVID seniors. Opening access to Advanced Placement courses for all students, regardless of ethnicity or economic background, is essential to leveling the academic playing field. AVID students, who take many AP tests every year, show greater ethnic diversity than AP test-takers do overall. The proportion of Latinos taking AP exams is almost five times higher among AVID students than among U.S. students overall.

Completion of Four-Year College Entrance Requirements AVID students complete university entrance requirements at a much higher rate than their non-AVID peers.

Percentage of Students Accepted into Four-Year Colleges AVID Senior Data Collection 2012-2013. n = 33,229

Next Steps Questions Moving Forward