HR0697

LRB094 14861 LCT 49864 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) 
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has provided academic and motivational support to more than 95 
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percent of the over 257,000 underperforming students who have 
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been in its program to go on to college since its inception 25 
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years ago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Advancement Via Individual Determination has 
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grown over 25 years to more than 2,200 middle high schools in 
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36 States and Department of Defense schools in 15 countries; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Advancement Via Individual Determination started 
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in 1980 with one teacher, Mary Catherine Swanson, and 32 high 
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school students in San Diego, California, and developed into a 
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transferable program that creates academic success; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Students are selected because they are 
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low-income, first generation, college-going students in the 
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academic middle not performing to their level of capability; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, These students choose to take an elective class 
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that teaches note-taking, academic reading strategies, and 
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collaborative work styles; and

 
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    WHEREAS, College students support the program with 
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individual academic coaching; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Students are required to take a rigorous college 
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preparatory curriculum including advanced level courses; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The program provides SAT/ACT preparation, college 
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information and financial aid assistance, college visits, and 
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motivational experiences; and

 
 


 






HR0697
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LRB094 14861 LCT 49864 r




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    WHEREAS, At the end of the first college years, 89 percent 
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of Advancement Via Individual Determination students are fully 
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eligible and do enroll for this sophomore year compared to a 
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national average of 50 percent; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Over 98,000 teachers and administration have 
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attended training in the high-quality teaching skills that 
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support Advancement Via Individual Determination students; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1997, Freeport Illinois High School teacher, 
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George Buss, was the catalyst behind bringing the AVID Program 
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to Illinois; and

 
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    WHEREAS, His high school, Freeport District 145, was the 
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first Illinois school to adopt the AVID Program; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Buss has served as Freeport AVID District 
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Director since its inception and championed the AVID concept 
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throughout Illinois; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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George Buss, AVID District Director, be recognized for his 
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exemplary work in the AVID program; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to AVID District Director, George Buss.