Equity

At AVID, we know the path to a better future is a college education. For too many students, however, college has been unattainable due to several barriers.

Our equity initiative is focused on addressing the factors that have kept various groups of students from going on to college. Through culturally responsive teaching strategies, we are giving our full attention to African American males and Latino students - both vastly underrepresented at postsecondary institutions.

Our major emphasis is providing instructional solutions to educators, so that all students can establish a college-going tradition.


College Board Report Outlines 'Educational Crisis' for Minority Men

The Educational Crisis Facing Young Men of ColorThe College Board released a report in early February called "The Educational Crisis Facing Young Men of Color." It highlights "undeniable challenges among minority students, including a lack of role models, search for respect outside of education, loss of cultural memory, poverty challenges, language barriers, community pressures and a sense of a failing education system," according to the announcement of the study. Please follow this link to the College Board's Minority Issues in Education page, where you may download the PDF.


African American Male Initiative

The AVID Center is committed to raising achievement of African American male students and giving this national issue a louder voice. AVID Center's goals are to provide educational opportunities and increase the number of African American males who graduate from high school and are college ready. To facilitate the education and motivation of African American male students, and create successful pathways to postsecondary education, AVID Center plans to:

  • Create curriculum for culturally relevant teaching at Summer Institute
  • Recruit and retain African American male AVID teachers, site team members, and tutors
  • Recruit and retain African American males in AVID throughout grades 5-12
  • Increase the number of African American males in Advanced Placement (AP)® and honors courses, especially higher-level math courses
  • Increase the number of African American males taking AP® tests in core academic areas
  • Improve self advocacy for learning and achieving
  • Develop a support mechanism that increases African American males' educational aspirations as well as support them in rigorous academic programs, courses, and curriculum

These goals are embedded with high expectations and the AVID Center has already demonstrated tremendous outcomes. AVID, the College Board and the National Association for Gifted Children have collaborated on a national level and the result was our Up Where We Belong: Accelerating African American Male Student Achievement conferences in 2008/2009 in Atlanta.

07/20/2009 News Release: AVID African American Male Initiative Announces Pilot Schools


Want to learn more?

ACCESS Research Journal, Issue 13.1, 2007 Spring features the following article about Equity:

School Reform and Second Generation Discrimination: Toward the Development of Equitable Schools
Guest writer, Dr. Pedro Noguera, discusses equity in education, and says, "No matter how difficult and elusive, the goal of equity remains one that schools must pursue if they are to remain viable as public institutions."

ACCESS Research Journal, Issue 10.2, 2004 Fall features the following article about Equity:

Equity and Achievement are focus of upcoming AVID/College Board National Conference
This article previewed the then upcoming National Conference titled, "Accelerating Equity and Achievement."