#61 | July 2010
Rejecting
the “At-Risk” Stereotype
Project U-STARS~PLUS
Helps Kids “At-Potential”
The persistence of the educational “haves” and “have-nots” is reflected in the achievement
gap between children of poverty and their more affluent peers, as well as between children
of color and their white peers. Every day, schools and communities across the U.S. identify
millions of young children as “at risk”—especially those with a minority background, who live in poor
neighborhoods or are learning English as a second language. FPG’s Project U-STARS~PLUS (Using
Science, Talents, and Abilities to Recognize Students ~ Promoting Learning for Under-Represented
Students) has turned the “at-risk” stereotype on its head. Rather than assuming children are at-risk,
U-STARS~PLUS assumes “at-potential.”
Project U-STARS~PLUS works
with school districts to support
elementary teachers in the early
recognition and nurturing of
outstanding potential in children
from economically disadvantaged
and/or culturally and
linguistically diverse families and
children with disabilities in order
to improve academic achievement
in science. The philosophy of
U-STARS~PLUS is to recognize
children’s strengths by 1)
providing an environment that
nurtures students intellectually
and emotionally, and 2) observing
students systematically. By their nature, young children tend to be interested in how things work, so
science provides an excellent means to engage all students. Because it is inquiry-based and focuses
on exploration and problem-solving and is not based soley on verbal skills, science gives students the
opportunity to demonstrate thinking skills, creativity, and persistence. By using science as a platform,
teachers can easily integrate reading, math, writing, and art.
Teachers get support to develop high-end learning experiences (see sidebar) for their students
and learn new tools for observing students through ongoing professional development provided
by U-STARS~PLUS project staff and school site teams. Teachers learn what to look for—especially
how outstanding abilities manifest in children from under-served populations—how to structure
classrooms with active and appropriately challenging learning so that students can more easily
demonstrate their potential. Teachers employ a number of activities and techniques to best serve
Project U-STARS~PLUS is
Characterized by Five Components
1. High-end challenging learning opportunities;
2. Systematic observation of students to identify potential
to inform instruction;
3. Hands-on, inquiry-based science lessons that focus
on exploration, problem solving, higher-level thinking,
creativity, and persistence and that can be meaningfully
integrated across the curriculum;
4. Parent and family engagement in school and academic
areas of interest; and
5. Systemic change through capacity building.