# Structural racism in schools: Evaluating the impact of academic tracking and de-tracking on substance use and health during adolescence and the transition to adulthood

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2023 · $701,989

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Academic tracking is a widely used practice that groups students into classes according to prior academic
performance, but has been criticized as a form of structural racism and discrimination, as it leads to the
concentration of Black and Latinx students in low-performing tracks. In addition to potential long-term impacts
on education attainment, a powerful social determinant of health, academic tracking may directly affect
adolescent social networks and substance use behaviors. By grouping students together with similarly
performing peers, tracking may reinforce school disengagement and risky health behaviors like substance use,
violence, and delinquency among lower-performing students. However, no known studies examine the health
implications of academic tracking nor tested whether interventions to dismantle tracking positively impact
health. Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) is a successful college preparatory program that
works in part by “de-tracking” students. AVID targets students from groups under-represented in higher
education, like Black and Latinx students, places them in rigorous college-preparatory courses, and provides
academic and social support to ensure their success. In our pilot study, a handful of students within 5 public
schools were randomized to AVID. We found the program led to connections with more pro-social peers and
lower odds of substance use and delinquency. When applied school-wide, AVID trains schools to ensure all
students have access to rigorous college-preparatory courses. However, there are no studies testing the health
effects of AVID's school-wide program. We propose a longitudinal study of adolescents attending 5 AVID
schools and 10 matched comparison schools (matched on location and student demographics) from racially
and ethnically diverse communities in Southern California. Participants will be followed for 4 years to test
whether exposure to AVID leads to a) lower rates of 30-day substance use (primary outcome--defined as any
alcohol, tobacco, vaping, cannabis, prescription, or illicit drug use in the prior 30 days), and other substance
use behaviors, violence and delinquency; b) increased enrollment in college-preparatory course taking and
healthier social networks (measured by fewer peers engaged in substance use, more peers engaged in school,
and more school-related adults); and c) whether associations between AVID and substance use are explained
by reduced racial/ethnic disparities in college-preparatory course taking and healthier social networks. We will
follow 3,570 9th-12th grade students at intervention and control schools for 4 years, collecting administrative
education data and health behavior and social network survey data as they progress through high school and
transition to college and/or the work force. This study will yield critical knowledge that can inform education and
health policy regarding academic tracking and the use of de-tracking interve...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10666482
- **Project number:** 5R01DA056234-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Rebecca N Dudovitz
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $701,989
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10666482

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10666482, Structural racism in schools: Evaluating the impact of academic tracking and de-tracking on substance use and health during adolescence and the transition to adulthood (5R01DA056234-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10666482. Licensed CC0.

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