Resource D - sample STAR policy

The STAR is an important grant. Schools use it to meet the identified learning needs of senior students that cannot be catered for within the traditional school curriculum. In particular, schools use it to:

1. facilitate transition to the workplace for students, particularly those intending to go straight into the workforce or those likely to leave school without any formal qualifications
2. provide or purchase tertiary-type courses which will better meet students’ needs, which will motivate them to achieve, and which will facilitate their smooth transition to further education, training or employment
3. support students to explore career pathways and help them make informed decisions about their schooling and future work or study.

Guidelines

1. Within this school, the following priorities for the grant have been identified:
   • New developments as incorporated in the school strategic plan.
   • Each individual student who chooses to study a STAR programme is interviewed to develop an appropriate programme based on their possible career pathway.
   • All students who choose to study a STAR programme do a compulsory first aid course.
   • Gifted and talented students study courses from this fund, which also are imbedded in unit standards.
   • All courses on offer must contain unit standards.
2. The STAR coordinator is responsible for making sure these priorities underpin all funding allocation decisions. Students identified as being likely to benefit from enrolling in a STAR funded course are expected to have individual learning needs that can be best catered for using STAR funds.
3. The STAR coordinator is responsible for the management and administration of the STAR programme, including:
   • allocating funding
   • liaising with providers, school staff, students and families
   • completing audit and reporting requirements.

STAR operational guidelines

Students identified as being likely to benefit from enrolling in a STAR-funded course are expected to:

• complete an enrolment form indicating their interest in studying a course
• be referred by the dean or guidance counsellor
• study courses of their choosing under supervision rather than being in normal national curriculum classes
• have been identified at year 11 as at risk and likely to leave without formal qualifications
• have an opportunity to attend short introductory courses (SICs) to explore career pathways; this includes year 9 and 10 students.

Identifying students’ needs

Students may choose to take part in a STAR programme. The STAR coordinator will interview students to determine an appropriate course for them. This is based on their interests and possible career pathway. Students will be identified in a variety of ways including:

• senior school survey
• careers team referrals
• careers advisor referrals
• parental referrals
• form and subject teacher referrals
• self referrals.