Background
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a college preparatory program for students in the middle who are often economically disadvantaged and underachieving. It enables disadvantaged secondary students to succeed in rigorous curricula, enter mainstream activities in school, and increase their opportunities to enroll in four-year colleges. Developed in 1980 by Mary Catherine Swanson, AVID has seen steady growth throughout California, nationally, and internationally in the last 26 years.
- More than 2,300 schools in 40 states and 15 foreign countries offer the AVID program.
- More than 200,000 students have graduated from AVID programs.
- Approximately 75 percent of AVID students were accepted to a four year college in 2005.
- Approximately 11 percent of AVID students attend University of California's (UC) nine undergraduate campuses.
- Approximately 35 percent of AVID students attend California State University (CSU) campuses.
- Approximately 85.7 percent of AVID students complete the a-g requirements for UC and CSU.
- $1,000,000 in 1995
- $2,000,000 in 1997
- $7,000,000 in 1999
- $11,000,000 with emphasis on supporting Advanced Placement (AP) expansion in 2000
- $11,000,000 in 2001
- $9,000,000 in 2002
- $9,000,000 in 2003
- $7,735,000 in 2004
- $7,735,000 in 2005
- $7,735,000 in 2006
Purpose
The California Department of Education (CDE) has administrative oversight of the grants with the regional centers and a contract with the AVID Center. The CDE works with the regional centers and AVID Center to expand and support the AVID program in local middle and high schools by:
- Expanding AVID to more schools and students
- Providing essential support to the expansion of AP
- Providing adequate statewide professional development support
- Maintaining the high quality of program and student outcomes
Funding
The fiscal resource for this grant is state funds. Grant funds can be used to support the following activities:
- Professional development support at appropriate levels
- Continuance and the expansion of AVID by building upon the existing infrastructure
- Regional coordination and technical assistance, professional development, and site resources at both middle and high schools, especially schools in the same feeder pattern
Eleven grants are awarded to county offices of education to serve the regions of California.
Applicants must show that they have the capacity to serve all current and emerging AVID sites located within the region for which they are applying.
