AMERICUS, Ga. — Last school term, the STAR program was implemented in the middle schools as a new tool for handling discipline.

The Student Transition and Recovery (STAR) program proved to be so successful in making a difference in the behavioral problems on the middle school level, that it was decided to develop a STAR Light program in the elementary schools.

STAR is a program designed for at-risk students to reduce juvenile offenses and referrals to the office for disciplinary problems — in the end also improving academic performance.

It is based at Staley Middle School, where program coordinator Capt. Diane Causby runs the STAR classroom with instructors Sgt. James Holloway, Sgt. Roderick Stewart and Sgt. Douglas Currington. The program consists of two phases: STAR PHASE I, which is a one-day program and STAR Phase II, which is a 30-day program.

The students wear uniforms, the boys wear a military haircut, and the day begins at 5:30 a.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m., with students participating in exercises, counseling, tutoring and military-style drills.

“Both programs follow the same regiment— simply put, taking a course in courtesy intervention. We want to keep kids in schools and out of detention centers,” Causby said.

With the same intent, the STAR Light program aims to deter and correct juvenile misconduct by addressing the behavioral problems at an earlier age.

“STAR Light is designed for students between the ages of five to eight. It has the same principles as the STAR program, but with a different targeted group,” said Assistant Superintendent Jim Whitson.

Before any student enters the STAR Light program, parental approval is obtained. This starts with a discipline referral and a recommendation from school administrators that the student could benefit from the program.

“Parents must agree to the terms of the program. We make them aware of the techniques we are using and let them know that it can be intense,” Causby said.

On the STAR Light level, a typical day for a student is like a normal school day, but begins with daily physical exercises, while incorporating the importance of learning manners and respect. There about 25 students that are monitored during the school day in the STAR Light program, but kept separate from the STAR students.

“It’s a modified version of the STAR program, but it is still military style with training and drills. We do little things to grasp the student’s attention, but it is proving to be effective,” Causby said.

The exercises are geared toward what children of these ages can realistically accomplish. However, Causby said they respond to these exercises pretty well.

“We are not pushing them beyond their physical capabilities. They are not doing push-ups, but they may have to position themselves in the push-up stance. And sometimes that’s all it takes. Some of the kids may cry, but it’s only because the program is intense and pushes them outside of a comfort zone,” she said.

According to Causby, STAR Light is an early intervention program that helps deter a lot of future misbehavior issues.

“It is basic and makes kids aware that there are consequences for misbehavior. If they can’t be disciplined, they can’t be taught,” she said, adding the program is about getting students on track and helping them make right decisions.

For Causby and her instructors, their goal is to cut down on office referrals, suspension, in school suspension and expulsion. She stated she appreciated the principals of the schools using the STAR and STAR Light programs as a way to handle disciplinary issues.

“It is important because we are trying to prevent these kids from repeating the same choices that will lead them to detention centers,” she said.

There are some students who do repeat the programs, but the same level of intensity is used to help that student continue to grow.

“We have some repeaters but we don’t give up. Sometimes it just takes one time for a student to go through the program and sometimes just seeing the instructors,” she said.

“Sometimes just the presence of the instructors in the schools make them behave correctly. We monitor the schools and walk in the hallways and that keeps them straight,” she added.

Causby said the program is good for all entities: the administrators, the parents and the students.

“It’s beneficial on each level. Parents are asking for the programs, administrators are making the recommendations and students are quickly learning the importance of behaving.”



Raven Payne writes for the Americus (Ga.) Times-Recorder.