AVID
AVID
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)
What is AVID?
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a structured, research-based College and Career Readiness System working directly with schools and districts established over 40 years ago in San Diego, California. AVID is a school-wide approach to curriculum and rigor that impacts over 2 million students in over 8,000 schools. The Boise School District first implemented AVID at Fairmont Junior High in 2006. Since then, the AVID system has been implemented in all 13 secondary sites as well as 2 elementary sites in the Boise School District.
What is AVID Elementary?
Elementary students in an AVID Elementary setting develop the academic habits they will need to be successful in middle school, high school, and college in an age-appropriate and challenging way. Children learn about organization, study habits, communication, and self-advocacy. AVID Elementary students take structured notes and answer and ask high-level questions that go beyond routine. By teaching and reinforcing academic behaviors and higher-level thinking at a young age, AVID Elementary teachers create a ripple effect in later grades.
The strong college-going culture on an AVID Elementary campus encourages students to think about their college and career plans. Schools display college pennants and banners, and educators speak about their college experiences. College and careers are no longer foreign concepts, and teachers provide the academic foundation students need to be on a path to college and career success. AVID Elementary closes the opportunity gap before it begins.
Who are AVID Elective students at the secondary level?
AVID Elective students are those students that are wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to prepare for college eligibility and success beyond high school. They are willing and able to take a more challenging college prep path, which includes Advanced Placement (AP) courses, Concurrent Enrollment, and courses to advance their studies with support through the AVID elective class. AVID students are typically hard-working with a positive attitude, are collaborative in nature, willing to take rigorous courses, have a 2.0-4.0 GPA, possess leadership potential, and have individual determination.
What is the AVID Elective at the secondary level?
The AVID Elective class supports students as they challenge themselves in more rigorous classes. Students engage in a curriculum that enhances their knowledge of note-taking, time management, organization, writing, and research while being immersed in a college-going culture. The class also includes tutorials that are facilitated by college students and provides support for success in their academically rigorous curriculum. Additionally, the AVID class provides access to information about colleges and universities through field trips, guest speakers, college tutors, scholarship opportunities, and college admission requirement information.
Contact the AVID Site Coordinator at your junior high or high school to find out more about applying for the AVID Elective.
Direct Entry Into College:
Click the image below to watch and listen to the first graduating class of AVID students explain how AVID has helped prepare them for post-secondary success.
AVID - BSD First Graduating Class
Click the image below to watch and listen to students and teachers explain how AVID helps prepare students for college, career, and citizenship.
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Many AVID strategies are being used schoolwide. Some of these strategies include:
Critical Reading- Marking The Text, Pausing To Connect, Writing In The Margins, Charting The Text
Focused Note-Taking- this refers to the 5 Phases of the Focused Note-taking Process. It includes: taking notes, processing the notes, connecting the thinking, summarizing, reflecting on the learning, and applying the learning. The goal is to have students revisit their notes multiple times with a purpose and for students to create their own study tool.
Binder Organization- students carry one binder as a way to stay organized. Within the binder are tabs labeled by subject, an agenda/planner, a pencil pouch with pencils, pens, a highlighter, a sharpener, etc. in it. All papers are kept within the binder, so students have their work with them at all times.
Interactive Notebooks- this is a notebook students use in classes such as English, math, and science. One side of the notebook is for "input," and the other side is for "output." Students take notes within the notebook as well as paste handouts and foldables into the notebook. It is another organizational tool. -
For more information about AVID, contact:
- Teresa Iglesias: teresa.iglesias@boiseschools.org
If you are interested in being an AVID Tutor, contact:- Patti Bellan: patricia.bellan@boiseschools.org
For information on how you can support the AVID Elective, go to: www.boiseschoolsfoundation.com.
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Fairmont Junior High first implemented AVID in 2006, with approximately 85 students.
As a result of implementing AVID strategies schoolwide and having a strong AVID system in place, Fairmont became an AVID National Demonstration School in 2011. It is one of approximately 250 Demonstration schools across the country, and the first one in the state of Idaho.