Date of Award
6-19-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
First Advisor
Amany Saleh
Second Advisor
Richard Casey
Committee Members
Ashley Buchman
Abstract
While Hispanic and African American college enrollment rates have increased over the past 20 years, minority students continue to face structural and educational barriers that make it more challenging for them to prepare for and gain entry to college. The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is a college preparatory initiative designed to provide additional academic and social support for historically disadvantaged students. Guided by a socio-cultural theoretical framework, this mixed-methods survey-based study explored the perceptions of 10 administrators and 10 teachers in a Southeast region school district regarding the impacts of AVID on minority students’ achievement. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents strongly agreed that students participating in AVID demonstrated increased motivation and engagement, as well as notable improvements in organizational and time management skills. Respondents also strongly agreed that the program was effective in preparing students for college and future success. Participants reported that program resources were meeting the needs of both students and educators, and that the professional development opportunities provided through AVID had contributed to improvements in their own teaching practices. Elements of the program perceived to be most effective included the WICOR strategies, collaborative learning approaches, reflective practices, and structured support with college applications. Respondents also identified areas where further refinement may be beneficial, such as streamlining the curriculum, expanding the teaching of practical life skills, and strengthening professional development and guidance for educators. Together, these insights provide actionable implications for enhancing the program’s effectiveness. As the AVID program continues to evolve, understanding its benefits for minority students and how these can be enhanced may help strengthen its impact and sustainability, help to reduce achievement gaps, and support minority students to achieve success in post-secondary education and their future careers.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Genia, "Educator Perceptions of the Impact of the Avid Program on Minority Students’ School Achievement" (2026). Student Theses and Dissertations. 1185.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/1185
