About this blog...

SPONSOR:  AVID Center

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college-readiness system designed to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges. Although AVID serves all students, it focuses on the least served students in the academic middle. The formula is simple - raise expectations of students and, with the AVID support system in place, they will rise to the challenge.

What differentiates AVID from other educational reform programs is its astounding success rate. Since 1990, more than 65,300 AVID students have graduated from high school and planned to attend college. Of the 2009 AVID graduates, 92 percent planned to attend college; 60 percent to a four-year college and 32 percent to a two-year college.

For more about AVID go to avid.org.

LEAD CONTRIBUTOR:  Robert Gira, AVID Center  

Beginning his 16th year with AVID, Rob serves currently as the Executive Vice President of National Programs.  He is responsible for overseeing AVID Center's National Programs, including curriculum, professional development, research and communications, and quality.

Before joining AVID in 1994, he was an administrator at two high schools in San Diego County, CA – Rancho Buena Vista High School and Vista High School. He taught English in the Vista Unified School District for ten years.

Rob received his B.A. in English from UC Santa Barbara, a teaching credential from San Francisco State University, and his M.A. and administrative credential from San Diego State University.

Email Rob at rgira@avidcenter.org.