Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Richard Snyder
Committee Member
James Pann
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
academic achievement, at-risk students, attendance, AVID, collaborative learning, college preparatory curriculum, Columbia, community involvement, Dent Middle School, family involvement, grade point average, instructional strategies, middle schools, parental involvement, PACT, Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test, professional development, rigorous coursework, staff development, student-centered curriculum, student motivation, teacher leadership, teaching methodologies, writing skills
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to replicate critical components of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program with selected at-risk students at Dent Middle School in Columbia, SC. Students were identified by risk factors of poor academic achievement, poor attendance, and lack of parental involvement. The program was designed to restructure teaching methodologies to improve students' success in college preparatory curricula.
Strategies included the following: (a) targeting students identified as average (between 2.0 and 3.25 grade point average with some exceptions) with academic potential; (b) enrolling students in a rigorous course of study with an emphasis on writing, inquiry, and collaborative learning; (c) improving teachers' instructional skills through visionary leadership and staff development; (d) involving parents and community members in the AVID program; and (e) providing students instructional strategies to achieve greater academic success.
During the 2002-2003 school year, 44 students participated in the AVID program at Dent Middle School. Fifteen (50%) of 30 students improved their scores on the state-mandated Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) from one level to the next higher level. The mean GPA of the group of 44 students improved from 2.36 at the end of the 2002-2003 school year to 2.95 in May 2003. The mean number of days students were absent decreased from 5 days per year to 2.7 days per year during 2002-2003. Responses from parents to questions concerning their satisfaction with the AVID program ranged from 86% to 98% positive responses on each question. Responses from students to questions concerning the importance of AVID program components ranged from 78% to 100% positive responses on each question.