Welcome to Project U-STARS~PLUS!

Here you will find information about the design, implementation, and evaluation of Project U-STARS~PLUS as well as helpful resources for educators. The U-STARS~PLUS team includes a national network of educators united by a passion for both excellence and equity. We are working to make sure that the needs of young gifted students, from culturally/ linguistically diverse and/or economically disadvantaged families and children with disabilities that might mask their gifts, are recognized and nurtured. We are delighted to share our work with so many!

The team consists of the U-STARS~PLUS staff, but we are just the tip of the iceberg. Our Advisory Board reflects key leaders from across the nation and Leadership Cadres have been established in North Carolina and Louisiana. At this time, 20 school districts in NC have started their initial implementation and Louisiana parishes have come on board this fall. In the coming years we will be joined by districts in Colorado, New Mexico, Illinois, and Maryland. The Association for the Gifted (TAG), a division of the Council for Exceptional Children, is also part of this network. With the support of U-STARS~PLUS, TAG held a day long symposium last April to review the gifted education professional development standards, looking at how these standards address helping us meet the needs of underserved gifted children. This network also includes the NC Morehead Planetarium and Science Center staff. We welcome you as part of our team!

-Mary Ruth Coleman, Ph.D., Director

Project U-STARS~PLUS Director Participates in Webcast

U-STARS~PLUS director Mary Ruth Coleman was selected to participate on WETA’s Reading Rockets’ webcast, Assessment: On Track for Reading Success. She was joined by Roland Good of the University of Oregon and Michael McKenna of the University of Virginia. The three panelists addressed a series of questions on reading assessment, ranging from how to conduct reading assessments to assessing children with special needs to working with parents. Click on the link below to view the webcast.

http://www.readingrockets.org/webcasts/ondemand/2006

Pocket of Excellence Nomination Form

In an effort to spotlight excellence in U-STARS~PLUS implementation, we encourage our participating teachers and administrators to nominate their schools, districts and colleagues for recognition. We would like to highlight the excellent work going on in our particiapting schools and provide examples of optimal implementation. Please use the attached Pocket of Excellence Nomination Form to nominate a Pocket of Excellence in your school or district. If you have any questions, or would like to nominate a candidate over the phone or by e-mail, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Please call or e-mail Reid Adams @ 919-843-8752 or adamsr@mail.fpg.unc.edu.

POE Nomination Form

U-STARS~PLUS Makes Headlines

Project U-STARS~PLUS and St. Landry Parish Schools were featured in an article spotlighting recent training in Louisiana. The article looks at the partnership between St. Landry Parish and U-STARS~PLUS and our combined efforts to help recognize potential in underserved populations. Click on the link below to read the entire article.

Click here for Daily World Article

Click here for other news articles