STAR Cohort

The goal of the STAR Cohort is to implement organized reading routines addressing the needs and priorities of Low/High Intermediate ABE and/or Advanced ESL readers. This 9-month model uses a “flipped classroom” approach. Participating ABE managers and teachers learn about evidence-based reading instruction (EBRI) from both online modules and face-to-face institutes, submit assignments to an online portfolio, receive ongoing support from STAR trainers and their cohort, and, if applicable, receive action plan guidance from members of their program’s STAR team who have already completed the cohort.

What does STAR Cohort participation involve?

Teams (an administrator and several teachers) from participating ABE programs:

• Attend 3 training institutes (total of 5 days of training)
• Participate in technical assistance activities
• Implement evidence-based reading instruction ideas from the trainings

What are the benefits?

Well — in short, STAR works. Just listen to STAR teachers talk about their experiences:

“I am so excited that my ‘world of reading’ has opened up as a STAR teacher! I am more able to diagnose a student’s particular weakness and then teach skills to improve it…WOW! I feel so empowered to help students in all areas of ABE with one necessary skill in life — READING!”

“A student entered STAR class announcing that she ‘hated to read and had never read a book in her life.’ Since being in STAR class, her TABE score has shot up and now she wants to be the first to read aloud. She is so proud to show her family that she is reading a real book at age 50.”

How can my program participate?

STAR cohorts run every other year, finishing in even-numbered years.  Programs must apply as a whole; individuals are not eligible to apply.

The STAR Application and STAR Orientation PowerPoint explain the following:

• What is STAR?
• What is EBRI?
• Who are STAR Students?
• Who are STAR Teachers?
• STAR Goals and Timeline
• STAR Benefits
• How to apply

Please direct any questions to Marn Frank, ATLAS Literacy & STAR Coordinator, at [email protected].

Eligibility Requirements

• An ABE program site or group of ABE sites within a state-funded consortium serving the target population of adult readers: NRS ABE Levels 2-4 (Beginning Basic ABE, Low-Intermediate, High-Intermediate) and/or NRS ESL 6 (Advanced)
• Support of an administrator* with supervisory responsibility and authority to approve the following changes and/or expenses:
• Establish structures at the program or classroom level to support STAR classes or instruction
• Conduct 2-4 diagnostic reading assessments with eligible STAR students
• Plan and deliver evidence-based instruction for alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension
• Organize reading routines based on available class time and STAR students’ instructional needs
• Adequate payment or release time for completion of online modules and assignments, attendance at all meetings, and participation in program action planning
• Purchase of additional reading instructional materials or resources (as needed)
• Participation of at least one teacher with current and future instructional responsibility for the target population

* Continuing STAR 09-18 administrators are not expected to complete modules and attend meetings, but are expected to action plan with participants.

Earn Graduate Credit

Earn 3 graduate credits through Hamline’s School of Education just by participating in STAR!  The coursework is comprised of your work in STAR, plus one short reflection piece at the end of the year. All you need to do is register for the STAR graduate credit course, EDUC 6073:

• Registration form
• Syllabus