ISTAR LPM Initiation

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I-STAR LPM Initiation

• I-STAR 2004
• April 24, 2004

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Agenda

• AKEB Structure
• What is I-STAR?
• I-STAR Strategic Direction
• LPM Experiences/Thoughts
• I-STAR Program Analysis
• Advantages of I-STAR
• I-STAR Timeline and Process
• LPM Roles and Responsibilities
• Student Academic Assistance
• A Possible Future Model of I-STAR

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AKEB Organization
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The I-STAR Mission

• I-STAR aims to become the vehicle for educational
  advancement and recognition of middle and high
  school Ismaili students
• Recognize students (motivates)
• Provide Academic Assistance (supports)

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I-STAR stands for

• Ismaili
• Student
• Total
• Achievement
• Recognition

Last year, I-STAR went through a drastic
strategic redirection. The reasons for the change
are available in last years RPM Training
document.
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I-STAR is a Program that Values

• Learning which engages the Mind, Body, and Soul
  (Experiential Education)
• A sound positive work ethic
• A strong Religious Education foundation
• Ismaili Ethics of the Faith
• A balance between Din and Duniya
• Teamwork and Scaffolding (vs. just individual
  achievement)
• Leadership qualities
• Service (community and jamati)
• Special Recognition (for all students)

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I-STAR is a Tool with which students can

• Gauge their academic standings
• Evaluate their potential for advancement
• Receive community recognition for their
  achievements
• Practice their presentation skills on a mock
  college application
• Receive academic advising in their educational
  development

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Focus Areas of I-STAR

• I-STAR focuses on three general areas of youth
  development
• Academic Achievement
• Extracurricular and community service leadership
• Writing aptitude

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Excellence Strategic Direction
Maximize Your Educational
Experience
Opportunity
Effectiveness
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Maximizing the Educational Experience

• The goal of I-STAR is to make learning FUN
• I-STAR is backdoor College Prep
• as opposed to traditional College Prep
• I-STAR focuses on Experiential Education
• Learning through life experiences
• Doing activities that maximize life-enriching
  experiences
• Applying life experiences to traditional
  schoolwork and writing

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I-STAR Strategic DirectionYouth Development
Matrix
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I-STAR Strategic Direction Evolution

• Started 13-years ago (by 4 potential Ivy Leaguers
• Went from a single category to three categories
• Went from Top 10 slice awards to Gold, Silver,
  Bronze awards based on standards
• Removed National vs. Regional distinctions
• Went from a paper-based application to an online
  application (gave access to more students)
• Included opportunities for at-risk students
• Roller-coaster reputation in the jamat

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I-STAR Strategic Direction

• I-STAR is no longer for the elite As and Bs
  students
• I-STAR is designed to attract students at all
  grade levels!
• We aim to have 100 student participation in
  I-STAR (yes, really!)
• Allows us to longitudinally track and provide
  ongoing tailored advice

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I-STAR Recognition Categories / Honors

• Academic Performance (based on grades,
  extra-curricular activities, test scores, and an
  essay)
• Summa I-STAR
• Magna I-STAR
• I-STAR
• Performance Improvement (a 10 improvement in
  academic grades)
• Summa I-STAR
• Special Recognition (exemplify leadership or
  expertise in a particular activity)
• Summa I-STAR

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You own the program too

• What questions, suggestions, or general thoughts
  do you have regarding the I-STAR program and its
  strategic direction?

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I-STAR 2003 Program Analysis

• Application Breakdown by Grade-level
• 6th grade (18 of total) 192 Applicants (All
  Brand new)
• 7th grade (21.5) 229 Applicants (35.8 brand
  new, 64.2 returning)
• 8th grade (19) 202 Applicants (27.7 brand new,
  72.2 returning)
• 9th grade (15.3) 163 Applicants (24 brand new,
  76 returning)
• 10th grade (13.4) 143 Applicants (23 brand
  new, 77 returning)
• 11th grade (8.5) 91 Applicants (19.8 brand
  new, 80.2 returning)
• 12th grade (3.6) 38 Applicants (15.8 brand
  new, 84.2 returning)

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(No Transcript)
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I-STAR Performance

• Currently we are hitting 25 of the 6-12th grade
  students in the US jamatwhat about the other
  75?
• In a 2001 study, 92 of Gold Winners went on to
  Tier I II universities

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Top 10 Reasons a student applies to I-STAR

• 10. Helps a student evaluate his/her own academic
  resume
• 9. Gives students practice filling out a college
  application
• 8. Helps consolidate registration for other
  jamati programs (like College Exp, SAT)
• 7. Guides students on a structured academic path
• 6. It gives students all the more reason to think
  about school during summer vacation

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Top 5 Reasons

• 5. Students can be publicly recognized for their
  achievements
• 4. Writing the essay is great practice for the
  new SAT and college apps
• 3. The I-STAR Composite score
• 2. Every student receives private, personalized
  academic feedback
• 1. Just look at two sample results (a picture is
  worth 1000 words)

Sample 1
Sample 2
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To Apply For I-STAR

• The student must currently be in the 6-12th grade
• Students must have available the following
  documents
• Report Cards / Transcripts (2003-2004)
• Also 2002-2003 if applying for Perf. Improv.
• Letters of Verification / Certifications for all
  Extra-Curricular Activities
• Official copy of Test Reports (SAT/ACT)

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I-STAR Process and Timeline

• 6 phase process that goes on year-round
• Once a student submits his/her application, there
  is a lot of behind-the-scenes work
• As an LPM, you should know this process and
  timeline by heart

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April 18 June 30 (I-STAR Workshops)
July 13 July 27
July 28 August 17
Aug. 28 Sept 14
Sept 15
Sept 16 Oct 6
Advisory/ Year-Round
Oct 13
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Application PeriodApril 18 June 30

• I-STAR Launch Announcements/Speeches
• Students will complete their application on
  www.EduOnline.net
• Every individual student should have an
  individual username and password
• Students must collect all the necessary documents
  and submit TWO (2) copies of them in Jamatkhana
  (documents will not be accepted after July 2nd)
• Lots of marketing should be going on in jamatkhana

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Sort Package Phase

• Each LPM will ship his/her regions student
  documents to the I-STAR central office in Atlanta
• The Atlanta office will sort the student
  documents and package them for the I-STAR
  Advisors
• If an LPM forgets to mail any students
  documents, that student will not receive any
  award or feedbackso please make sure you keep
  track of all your documents

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Advising Phase

• The I-STAR Advisors spend countless hours pouring
  over student documents and responses.
• They try to provide as much feedback as they can
• Please be supportive of all I-STAR Advisorsthey
  are part of our team and we should never disgrace
  or demean them in jamatkhana for any reason

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Audit Phase

• The I-STAR team performs a general audit of the
  Advising Phase to reassure the quality of the
  feedback
• Yes, some poor Advising will slip through the
  audit cracks, but our goal is to limit those to a
  very small percentage

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Results and Grievances PhaseSept 15 Oct 6, Oct
13

• On Sept 15, the I-STAR team will announce the
  availability of the I-STAR results and feedback
• Students will receive their results on EduOnline
• Make sure students remember their username/passwd
• Students will then have 3 weeks to email the
  I-STAR team with specific grievances they have
  against their personal application results
  (istar_at_eduonline.net)
• Results posters should be hung at each JK Center
• On Oct. 13, the final results will be made
  available to the AKEB Chairs.

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The Advisory PhaseBegins Dec. 2003

• The Advisory is a 1-on-1 quarterly meeting
  between JK Advisors and each student who applies
  for I-STAR
• Only students who score less than 70 points on
  the I-STAR application will receive 1-on-1
  sessions.
• The JK Advisors will be knowledgeable in I-STAR,
  College Prep, and Tutoring content
• All advice given to students will be documented
  using an online case-management tool

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The Advisory Phase (cont)

• 3 quarters of sessions will be face-to-face
• Dec, March, and June
• The 4th quarter will be the personalized written
  advice a student receives from the I-STAR Advisor
  on EduOnline
• The Advisory is a way for us to give short-term
  specific advice to a student, track him/her, and
  give follow-up advice the next quarter
• The Advisories will eventually implement a
  team-based approached and a tool to set specific,
  measurable student goals

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Year-Round I-STAR

• All students should apply for I-STAR during the
  recognition/feedback period
• However, if a student wants to register for other
  jamati programs via I-STAR, we will keep open the
  Year-Round I-STAR application
• Disadvantage No feedback, No recognition

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Your ROLE as LPM

• Hopefully youve already gotten a sense of your
  role as LPM
• Three key terms describe your role
• Marketing
• Motivation
• Management
• Whatever you do, just keep in mind that your role
  is for your ENTIRE REGION
• That includes your main city plus all other
  jamatkhanas in your regional states
• It is your job to develop and train your own
  Jamatkhana coordinators / PDT for I-STAR

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LPM Role Marketing

• Work with your regional PDT to develop your
  marketing strategy
• You can develop posters, flyers, stickers,
  notice-board ads, etc
• After the National Announcement and Poster, other
  I-STAR jamati announcements are in your hands
• Market your I-STAR Workshops
• Direct your marketing to both Parents and
  Students
• DO NOT market the JK Advisory

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LPM Role Motivation

• Constantly remind the students why they should
  apply
• Motivate them by getting involved in different
  community service extra-curriculars yourself
• Be positive about I-STAR and about the help that
  it provides
• Get teams of students to apply together
• Use your I-STAR Workshops to be inspirational

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LPM Role Management

• You must manage your teams schedules
• You must manage the Document Collection
  procedures (crucial!)
• You must manage the necessary supplies your team
  needs (forms, envelopes, etc..)
• You must log every hardcopy document that comes
  into your teams hand so that youre sure youve
  mailed them all
• You must manage the Advisory schedule
• You must manage the human resources of I-STAR in
  your region (including JK Advisors)
• Someone has to be available at the I-STAR desk

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LPM Role beyond I-STAR

• Every one of you is an LPM because you believe in
  I-STAR and you believe that we can improve
  excellence within our jamat
• Beyond the formal I-STAR application and the
  Advisory, you must play the role of the key
  secular education leader in your region
• You must know the educational trends in your
  region and try to keep yourself up-to-date on
  different educational opportunities in your
  region
• I-STAR Academic Assistance document on EduOnline
  read it know it spread it
• Become the point-person for 6-12th education

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Things to Watch Out For

• Never compare the old Gold, Silver, Bronze awards
  with the Summa, Magna I-STAR system
• Never tell the jamat that I-STAR is a
  pre-requisite for other jamati programs. We only
  ask that the I-STAR application be an initial
  registration form for other programs
• We will never share personal, private data (such
  as a students grades) with other programs.
• Never use the words competition and I-STAR in
  the same sentence. I-STAR is not a competition.
  If a student uses the word competition, you
  must change their thinking appropriately

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That was I-STAR this is SAA

• Student Academic Assistance (SAA) is the real
  content behind I-STAR
• As the LPM, you should be extremely familiar with
  this content
• There are two documents that will introduce you
  to SAA
• The Hub/Master Facilitator/I-STAR Training
  Presentation
• The Student Academic Assistance document

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A Possible Model for the Future
USA Jamat is not ready for this yet. Weve made
too many drastic changes recently