Advancement Via Individual Determination in the Suburban High School: An Evaluation of the Jenks High School AVID Program

Abstract

This program evaluation examines the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program at Jenks High School in Jenks, Oklahoma. AVID is a college readiness program designed to prepare underachieving high school students for college. Jenks High School began the planning phase for its AVID program in 2005-2006, with implementation beginning with a freshman cohort during the 2006-2007 school year. The program evaluation was designed to determine whether, through the program’s “eleven essential elements,” AVID creates an environment promoting the development of self-regulated learning behaviors among program participants. In addition, the evaluation considers the inputs provided by the school district, the fidelity with which the eleven essential elements have been implemented, the degree of self-regulated learning behaviors program participants exhibit, and the extent to which the desired outcomes of increased levels of participation in advanced coursework, higher rates of high school graduation, and increased enrollment in postsecondary education have been achieved.