ABSTRACT
Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) is a non-profit organization whose main purpose is to assist underrepresented students in their pursuit of higher education. Schools create AVID elective courses and sections structured on these methods in hopes of using in-school time to inform the habits of mind that will increase students' chances of college entrance and persistence. AVID receives a large part of its funding from school districts and individual schools. In order to be an AVID site, a school or its district has to pay AVID an annual fee. In addition to these fees, districts must send at least ten faculty members to the AVID summer institute their first year. AVID Center in San Diego is the organization's headquarters. Its board of directors is composed of 13 members, which includes the founder, Mary Catherine Swanson. All 13 members come from a variety of backgrounds; most of which are education related.
