October 27, 2008 - Austin School District officials, former assistant superintendent and school namesake Dr. Charles Akins, will join Akins math teachers Stephen Autrey and Armando Vazquez along with algebra students for an AYD (Academic Youth Development) kickoff event to spark interest in next year’s summer math camp. Students and parents who participated in last summer’s inaugural program will provide testimonials on how the camp has boosted their math achievement levels. The kickoff will be on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 (10:50-11:50am) in Room 269 at the school, located at 10701 S. First Street.

“It’s important to do well in math to keep up with the world’s global economy,” said Dr. Akins. “AYD works to assure that students at this critical juncture of their academic career master the basics that will help them be successful later in their academic and professional lives.”  
 
The Academic Youth Development Initiative was developed in partnership with the Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin as part of AISD’s High School Redesign initiative with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The program targets a high academic need and is intended to improve math performance.  
 
The Academic Youth Development initiative supports the successful transition of students from middle school to high school mathematics. AYD incorporates best practices in the teaching of pre-algebra skills with recent advances in developmental and social psychology in a way that increases students’ engagement and commitment to success in rigorous academic programs. A central feature of AYD is the creation of a cohort of students who can create a positive learning environment for all students in their algebra class. A 14-day summer school intervention camp shapes the way students think about themselves as learners. Research demonstrates that relatively modest interventions aimed at shaping the culture of ninth-grade classes can have powerful effects on student success.  
 
“I believe that AYD really helps students get ready for high school by establishing good communication, leadership, and study skills,” said Armando Vazquez, Akins Algebra 1 teacher. “Students do a lot of group work to develop a sense of community, which is very beneficial in high school, and this program helps them understand that they can get smarter by working at it.”  
 
“Being a part of AYD Camp this summer made Arron secure enough to transition into high school without being nervous,” said Betty Armstrong, parent of AYD student Arron Armstrong. “It was great to see the incoming freshmen from different middle schools connect as a team after starting the AYD program as strangers, “ said Deborah A. Black, 9th Grade counselor. Details on next year’s camp will be announced during the kickoff event.