Education

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health - conducts the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in randomly selected public high schools in every odd-numbered year. The YRBS focuses on the major risk behaviors that threaten the health and safety of young people.Read more

The national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) monitors priority health risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. The national YRBS is conducted every two years during the spring semester and provides data representative of 9th through 12th grade students in public and private schools throughout the United States.Read more

This article presents a comprehensive study of the gender differences in educational achievement and progress during the past 35 years. The study highlights trends in gender equity from elementary school to college by utilizing results from national standardized tests such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the SAT and ACT college entrance examinations, as well as other measures of educational achievement.Read more

This is a study of 10 high schools that implemented AVID during the 1999-2000 academic year as a Comprehensive School Reform model. Student performance data were collected on 1,291 AVID students in these Texas schools. Researchers examined test scores, attendance rates, advanced course enrollment patterns, graduation plans and school accountability ratings over a 3-year period.Read more

This is a study of four groups of high school students: 3 groups enrolled in two college preparatory programs, AVID and GEAR UP, and a control group not enrolled in a college preparatory program in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Differences in student educational aspirations, expectations and anticipations, knowledge of college entrance requirements, knowledge of financial aid, and academic achievement in mathematics were examined. Researchers used various methods of statistical analyses as well as focus groups to gather their data.Read more

This is a study of the retention behaviors of high school seniors in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) elective class. The design involves a multiple case study of eight high schools chosen from California and Texas. Focus groups of high school seniors were conducted in four Texas schools and in four California schools. This mostly qualitative study included student focus groups, teacher and administrator interviews, and surveys of teachers, students, parents, and administrators.Read more

Overall, AVID participants had higher scores on end-of-course exams and state assessment tests, and were more likely to be on-track to complete a college-preparatory curriculum than nonparticipants at the same schools. AVID was associated with higher rates of enrollment in advanced courses, as well as higher levels of college knowledge. AVID schools improved their performance ratings at a greater rate than non-AVID schools, and more students in AVID schools took AP or IB exams than students in the comparison schools.

Comprehensive research has proved that the AVID elective class makes a difference in the lives of students because of the curriculum design and the teachers that provide critical academic and personal support. AVID's professional development is ongoing and contributes to the programs' schoolwide success.

New studies suggest that developmental assets play a significant role in students’ academic achievement, just as much as other demographic factors and school reform strategies. Developmental assets are described as positive factors in young people, families, communities, schools and other settings that have been found to be important in promoting youth developmet. New research reveals that: the higher students’ current asset levels, the higher their current GPA.Read more

Research shows that girls and women need role models to develop high aspirations for the future. With women becoming increasingly more involved in the workforce and in non-traditional, previously male-oriented careers, this review of literature examines career aspirations of women and presents an overview of women’s participation in the workforce and the progress of women’s career development and career aspirations in the latter half of the 20th century.