AVID

AVID's mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society. AVID places students on the college track, encouraging them to enroll in rigorous courses, such as honors and Advanced Placement®. To support them in their coursework, AVID students learn organizational and study skills, develop critical thinking, learn to ask probing questions, receive academic help from peers and college tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities to make their college dreams a reality.

The AVID program began at ICCSD in 2016. Over the past six years, AVID has expanded to all seven secondary schools serving students in grades seven through twelve.

2016-2017

AVID Elementary implemented at Kirkwood Elementary

AVID Elective implemented at Northwest Junior High

2018-2019

AVID Elective implemented at City High, West High, & Liberty High

AVID Schoolwide implemented at Tate High

2020-2021

AVID Elective implemented at North Central Junior High & Southeast Junior High

2022-2023

AVID Schoolwide implemented at North Central Junior High

AVID Elective is offered as an elective class to students beginning in grade seven. The AVID Elective is an academic elective course that prepares students for college readiness and success, and it is scheduled during the regular school day as a year-long course. Each week students receive instruction utilizing a college preparatory curriculum provided by AVID Center, motivational activities, and academic success skills. In AVID Elective, students participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading (WICOR) to support their academic growth.

In the AVID Elective class, students:

• work on academic and personal goals and communication, adjusting to the high school setting
• increase awareness of their personal contributions to their learning, as well as their involvement in their school and community – with an emphasis on analytical writing, focusing on personal goals and thesis writing
• work in collaborative settings, learning how to participate in collegial discussions and use sources to support their ideas and opinions
• prepare for and participate in college entrance and placement exams, while refining study skills and test-­taking, note-­taking, and research techniques (Their college research will include financial topics and building their knowledge on colleges and careers of interest.)

The power of AVID Schoolwide is the ability to impact students in the AVID Elective class and all students throughout the campus. AVID Schoolwide can have an effect on the entire school by providing classroom activities, teaching practices, and academic behaviors that can be incorporated into any classroom to improve engagement and success for all students.

The four key components of AVID Schoolwide:

• Instruction: The entire instructional staff utilizes AVID strategies, other best instructional practices, and 21st-century tools to ensure college readiness for AVID Elective students, and improved academic performance for all students.
• Systems: The systems in place support curriculum, instruction, data collection and analysis, professional learning, and student and parent outreach to ensure college readiness for all students.
• Leadership: The leadership sets the vision and tone that promotes college readiness and high expectations for all students in the school.
• Culture: The AVID philosophy progressively shifts beliefs and behaviors resulting in an increase in students meeting college readiness requirements.

AVID impacts students schoolwide when academic strategies like writing to learn, inquiry, collaboration, organizational skills, and critical reading (WICOR) are taught in all classes by teachers who have been trained to use AVID strategies in their specific content area. WICOR provides a learning model that educators can use to guide students in comprehending concepts and articulating ideas at increasingly complex levels (scaffolding) within developmental, general education, and discipline­-based curricula. Furthermore, the WICOR model reflects and promotes the expertise and attitudes that will serve students well in their academic lives and careers.

A critical component of AVID is the incorporation of AVID strategies schoolwide. AVID's systemic approach is designed to support students and educators as they increase schoolwide/districtwide learning and performance. The goal of the AVID system is to transform the instruction, systems, leadership, and culture of a school, ensuring college readiness for all AVID Elective students, and improved academic performance for all students, based on increased opportunities.

Equity: Close the Opportunity Gap

With AVID, schools provide the high expectations, access, and support students need to succeed in all courses. Teachers align MTSS efforts to ensure students are supported with all spectrums of need and giftedness. (HRS Level 1: Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Culture)

Teacher Effectiveness: Good Teachers Can Be Great Teachers

Teaching is an art. AVID energizes and refreshes approaches to engage students. Schools structure professional learning around the components of WICOR and best teaching strategies to engage all students in learning. (HRS Level 2: Effective Teaching in Every Classroom)

Leadership: High Expectations for All Students Start at the Top

AVID helps leaders find clarity, confidence, and comfort with instituting change. AVID provides scaffolded support that educators and students need to encourage college and career readiness and success. (HRS Level 2: Effective Teaching in Every Classroom)

Student Learning: Students Can Rise to the Challenge

AVID helps teachers tap into the way students naturally like to learn. Teachers teach and model Growth Mindset thinking, engage students in goal-setting, and maintain high expectations with high support. (HRS Level 3: Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum)

Tutors are key to the success of the AVID program. Tutors from area colleges and universities are trained to use specific teaching methodologies and materials to work with AVID students. Tutors work with AVID students in study groups and individually, assisting them in all academic areas to make progress commensurate with college expectations. AVID tutorials take place in small groups that are subject area specific. AVID tutors assist the students achieve their full potential by facilitating collaborative tutorial groups. Tutors use Socratic questioning and collaborative learning techniques to help the students come up with the answers to their questions on their own and by working with fellow students.

Tutoring in AVID is different from any job you have held before. Being part of a program at the forefront of education is highly challenging and requires extraordinary commitment, yet its rewards are many. More than anything else, tutoring in AVID is the best preparation possible for a career in teaching or in any other job which is people oriented

It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Laura Gray, Director of Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness (programs), gray.laura@iowacityschools.org or Eric Howard, Director of Equity and Employee Relations (employment), howard.eric@iowacityschools.org, 1725 N. Dodge Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245, (319) 688-1000. If you are unsure how to proceed or would like assistance in discussing your options, you may also contact Janet Abejo-Parker, Ombuds, ombuds@iowacityschools.org or (319) 688-1312.