Denver Public Schools to Expand AVID College Readiness System with $984,000 Grant from I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation

DENVER, Jan. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a San Diego- based non-profit, proven college readiness system, and Denver Public Schools (DPS) jointly announced the start of the AVID Denver Neighborhood Project, a 3-year grant funded by the I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation to expand and strengthen the AVID College Readiness System in a cluster of schools in two underrepresented neighborhoods served by DPS.  With proven outcomes and published data as support, AVID practices in complex urban locations nationally.  In this project, AVID will apply the full breadth of its System in Denver Public Schools. 

"The purpose of our granting initiative is to support projects such as AVID, that have a measurable and meaningful impact on improving educational outcomes for at-risk students, and can be replicated in other communities," commented John O'Shaughnessy, President of the O'Shaughnessy Foundation based in Minnesota.  "We are excited to support AVID's work in Denver because we have seen AVID programs help improve education so that students are able to create real success in their lives."

AVID District Director for the Denver Public Schools, Gary Cooper stressed, "We are committed to developing strong educational options for students and parents in every neighborhood within DPS."  In a school district that advocates school choice, which allows families to choose where their child attends school, this project is designed to create natural feeder patterns of schools with positive college-going cultures and AVID academic and social supports for low-income, disadvantaged students.

AVID is recognized nationally for accelerating the performance of underrepresented students, systematically increasing academic rigor, and creating engaging learning environments for identified students. Sandy Husk, PhD and CEO of AVID, stated, "We have data that shows AVID closes the achievement gap.  We thank the I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation and the Denver Public Schools for their confidence in providing the AVID System to these deserving students." 

ABOUT AVID
AVID is a non-profit, proven college readiness system that closes the achievement gap. Today, AVID is implemented in approximately 5,000 schools in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and 16 countries/ territories and impacts more than 800,000 students in grades K–12 and in 43 post-secondary institutions. The AVID College Readiness System transforms a school's academic culture to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges and succeed in higher education and training. www.avid.org

ABOUT I.A. OSHAUGHNESSY FOUNDATION
The I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation is a family foundation with a mission to share the legacy of Ignatius Aloysius O'Shaughnessy for the common good, making grants that enrich communities and improve people's lives.  The Foundation was established in 1941 by Ignatius Aloysius O'Shaughnessy in order to share his good fortune with others. His generosity and stewardship have inspired succeeding generations of family members, who have been entrusted to carry on his philanthropic work.  iaoshaughnessyfdn.org

ABOUT DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Denver Public Schools is committed to meeting the educational needs of every student with great schools in every neighborhood.  DPS strives to provide every child in Denver with rigorous, enriching educational opportunities from preschool through high school graduation. DPS is comprised of 185 schools, including traditional, magnet, charter and pathways schools, with a current total enrollment of 87,398 students.  The mission of DPS is to provide all students the opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills necessary to become contributing citizens in our society. www.dpsk12.org

SOURCE AVID Center

Related Links

http://www.avid.org