UPDATED:
In response to questions raised by Dagger readers, HCPS has clarified that the AVID program is being funded by a Department of Defense Education Activity grant.
From Harford County Public Schools:
Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) is excited to announce it will implement AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, at Aberdeen and Havre de Grace middle schools this coming school year. According to its website (www.avid.org), AVID is a non-profit elementary through post secondary college readiness system that is designed to close the achievement gap with increased school-wide learning and performance.
HCPS Instructional Facilitator Helen Miller has been charged with developing the program at the schools. She, along with other educators involved in the program, spent a year planning and selecting students.
“We are teaching students to be college-ready starting in the 7th grade,” said Ms. Miller. “No matter what path they choose after graduation, each AVID student will have the skills necessary to be successful in any post-secondary environment. Additionally, our goal is to spread the AVID methodologies so ALL students can benefit from the AVID system.”
Nineteen teachers, counselors and administrators from Havre de Grace and Aberdeen middle schools attended the AVID Summer Institute in Atlanta, GA, June 19-24th for extensive AVID training. More than 20,000 educators will be trained this summer through the AVID Summer Institutes across the country.
The AVID system accelerates student learning with research-based methods of effective instruction and meaningful and motivational professional development. AVID is implemented in more than 4,500 schools in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and 16 countries/territories and serves approximately 400,000 students in grades 4-12 as well as students in 14 postsecondary institutions.
Although AVID serves all students, it focuses on the least-served students in the academic middle, predominantly minority and economically disadvantaged. The program has proven over the last 30 years to be highly successful. In addition to outstanding graduation rates, AVID students perform well above their peer groups.
Who is paying for this program and its facilitators? I thought we didn’t have any spare change within the HCPS? What about going to school, doing your work, and graduating, like the rest of the working class kids? Please stop wasting money…..
This sounds like a bit of a wasteful and unnecessary program. Shouldn’t the students already prepare for Advancement Via Individual Determination? Why are we wasting funds and resources on programs like this? The parents should make sure their children are prepared and should teach them to be a bit more self-sufficient. The students need to learn to this at home. This seems like a huge waste of funds that the county said they don’t have.
This is another program that Tomback has brought with him from Baltimore County. Another question to be answered is if this is such a good program why isn’t it being offered at all middle schools? If we are going to have such a program then why aren’t students from the other middle schools getting the same opportunities?
OMG A NEW PROGRAM FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY, A NEW PROGRAM FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY!!! THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING! AHHH!
No the sky is not falling. The first sentence is just a statement, no judgment attached. But that the program is not county wide is just another example of inequities in HCPS course offerings, programs, and facilities. It is the Harford County school system. Not the Havre de Grace and Aberdeen (this time – it will be some other school or group of schools the next time) get special attention school system. This is about the unequal distribution of resources to county students. I am sure there are students in other middle and high schools that could take advantage of this program if it were made available to them.
The program could go to other schools if parents would take the military affiliation forms seriously. The schools w high military affiliated student enrollment get extra money.
The program could go to other schools if parents would take the military affiliation forms seriously. The schools w high military affiliated student enrollment get extra money.
Let’s start a new study. After completion of the AVID program, how many of the participants need remedial English and Math in college?
Wow – it just gets better each week reading the ignorance found in these comment sections. Try and implement some sort of program to help kids make something of themselves one day and get nothing but whining and complaining. Some of you really just don’t get it, do you? This country is woefully inadequate when it comes to the ability of our young people in comparison to the overachieving, motivated generations of foreign born youth you all love to criticize all of the time. American children get raised by parents who want to be dad and mom of the next great singer, jock or other meal ticket. You’d better appreciate programs like this that are willing to try and help someone – anyone – especially kids from lower income brackets who need it most – get a leg up and make it to college. Educated children helps ALL of us, whether you’re smart enough to realize it or not.
Maybe this program should be aimed at the parents that don’t really give a damn what their kids do instead of wasting valuable resources on a program destined to fail because of the lack of parental support.
I’m quite sure that this is being paid for by what is known as “intervention funds”, which is money given by the federal government that cannot be used for anything else. It’s a pilot program, which explains why it is only in two schools and not ten. I for one am glad to see that the school system finally recognizes that interventions at the high school don’t work very well if the clients are already irreparably damaged when they get here.
I hope it works. Anything that can be done to have middle school students more prepared for high school when they actually get to high school is a good thing. I just hope that their “successes” in Atlanta are valid and aren’t just a result of the system-wide cheating on standardized tests recently reported.
I cant believe a teacher would make assumptions about it being a pilot based on the number of schools…
This is the kind of change mandated by continued not making AYP. NCLB requires these things.
First of all, the person coordinating the program is already employed as an instructional facilitator. She is originally from Texas and worked with the AVID program there and wanted to bring it to HCPS in a positive way. I have worked with Helen Miller and have nothing but wonderful things to say about her. She is a person who makes the IF position actually relevant.
As much as I don’t like the BCPSing of HCPS, this is not an example.
It is about time that HdG and Aberdeen get a chance at something instead of the Northern schools. Give those kids a chance and I bet the soar!
Please note that the above story has been updated with information about the funding source for this program in HCPS.
Oh my gosh! Now we know why the DOD budget is so bloated.
Does this mean that DOD only thinks that kids in Havre de Grace and Aberdeen are worthy of the AVID program? Does this mean that those running BRAC don’t expect to hire future employees from anywhere else in the county?
This means that when the DOD looks to make an investment in an area like this they look to help the schools that need the most help. They offer lots of other outreach some you do not even notice and much is availible to all. Like the TNT trip in 8th grade, the many science resources in middle school. etc.
Does this mean that the kids attending North Harford, Bel Air, Patterson Mill, South Hampton, Fallston, Magnolia, and Edgewood are not worth the investment according to DOD? Despite the fact that scores may be higher in “some” of those schools doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of kids in those schools that could benefit from the AVID program.
Please got to the AVID website and review the information provided. The program is designed for students who need an extra push to really think about college as a future for them.
http://www.avid.org
And to all the naysayers out there: Why not Havre de Grace and Aberdeen? All students have a right to learn and dream.
You make my point – ALL – should include all of Harford County.
“Although AVID serves all students, it focuses on the least-served students in the academic middle, predominantly minority and economically disadvantaged.”
That statement doesn’t refer to the entire Harford County Public School system. Havre de Grace and Aberdeen have a population that fit the criteria. Students in other schools don’t necessarily require an additional push to go to college; it’s coming from home. Let’s see how it goes over the next several years. If it’s successful, expand to other schools.
AVID is used to target specific students within a school. It is not a program meant to incorporate an entire student body. There are plenty of students in our other middle schools that fit the criteria of not having a family history of academic success or attending college. Those students would also greatly benefit from being enrolled in this program. To not offer AVID across in all middle schools is discriminatory.
Why Not All…
There is likely only so much money available through the grant, so the county had to make a choice.
If you believe in the program so much, then move your children into that district so they can benefit from the program. Oh wait….you probably don’t want to move to one of “those” schools? I have worked in both Route 40 and northern schools and they are two totally different worlds. The most disadvantaged kid in the northern schools at least attends with a student population where 90%+ of kids continue their education. That is the expectation so those students naturally have a better chance just because of the overall expectation of the school. Look up the term “critical mass” and you will see what I am talking about.
I live in that area and my kids attend those schools so watch the assumptions you make! And check your facts 90%+ do not continue their education, higher yes but not nearly that high. My complaint is that the Harford County school system does not treat ALL students with equal opportunity no matter where they live in the county.
Assumptions corrected…..the vast majority of posters on here do have that attitude, but you are right, I should not assume.
As far as my facts, I teach at one of those schools so I think the rate of 90% is correct. Continue their education means 4 year college, community college, vocational/career training. It is not just college but doing something that makes them viable in the market place. A good plumber is sure to make more than me with my Master’s degree, so college isn’t the only route but education after high school of some kind is for most people.
I’ll be on the radio today with Maynard to talk about the AVID program in HCPS – tune in to WAMD 970 AM at 7:35 a.m.