![Utah State representative Sandra Hollins watches as her husband and other volunteers paint signs that represent the various Universities around Utah in the Jackson Elementary gymnasium. According to volunteer Natalie Fundara the signs will be hung in the classrooms to represent the University the teacher attended and "to show an example of going to college."](https://westviewmedia.org/media/k2/items/cache/73608782f50eb6af17bb69bdcd662692_4_XL.jpg?t=1614535180 "Utah State representative Sandra Hollins watches as her husband and other volunteers paint signs that represent the various Universities around Utah in the Jackson Elementary gymnasium. According to volunteer Natalie Fundara the signs will be hung in the classrooms to represent the University the teacher attended and "to show an example of going to college."")
Jackson is the second elementary school in the Salt Lake City School District to adopt the AVID program, school-wide. AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) is a college readiness system that supports a college-going culture and academic preparation for students.
Following Bennion Elementary, Jackson will offer AVID to all students beginning in the 2015-16 school year. This summer, a majority of Jackson’s teachers attended a summer institute where they learned instructional strategies to ensure continuing academic success for their students. The AVID Elementary program will be embedded into the daily instruction of all of Jackson’s classrooms.
For over thirty years the program has created rigor and access for students in middle and high schools, including Bryant, Glendale and Northwest Middle Schools and East, Highland and West High Schools. Because of AVID’s successful results, educators are now realizing that college-readiness should begin in the elementary school years.
Like AVID Secondary, AVID Elementary essentials focus on the four necessary areas to ensure that all students are poised for academic success: Instruction, Culture, Leadership, and Systems.
The AVID Elementary program emphasizes skills that students need to be successful in college, such as strong listening, speaking and writing skills. Students learn how to be organized, how to take good notes, how to study for tests, and how to think critically. They even delve into topics like time-management and goal-setting – skills we could all benefit from.