Star at my School

Students Taking Action for Respect is a club - just like drama club or cheerleading or Spanish club - that encourages students like yourself to make a difference in their school by raising awareness about sexual assault and unhealthy relationships.

To start a Students Taking Action for Respect program, you must have an adult sponsor and at least two students enrolled in grades 8-12 who want to participate. Ask a teacher or school counselor to be a sponsor, or ask an advocate or youth educator at your local rape crisis center for help. Don’t hesitate to email or call TAASA at 512-474-7190 and ask for assistance.

Every year, members of Students Taking Action for Respect meet at a college campus for a summer conference to develop leadership skills and to prepare STAR teams to present information on sexual harassment, dating violence, acquaintance rape and other related topics to their student body or local groups at home. In addition, many sessions focus on developing leadership skills and further developing the STAR program. Attending the STAR Conference is a great way to kick-start a STAR program at your school.

All students who attend the summer conference are expected to return to their schools and educate their community and/or their student body through presentations, newsletters, dramatic presentations, websites or other means. Creativity is encouraged!

For more information on the Students Taking Action for Respect program and how to start it at your school, fill out the form below or call (512) 474-7190 and ask for the STAR Program.

Name:   School:   School District:   Student Address, City, Zip     School Address, City, Zip     Email Address:   How did you hear about the STAR program?   Comments:

Texas Youth Help Lead the Nation Sexual assault is a serious danger for youth across America, and serves as a call to action for students to become leaders for equality, respect, dignity, and compassion. Each year STAR students gain national attention for their initiative and success. In 2002 a STAR team was invited to the National Youth Conference in Washington D.C.. The Center for Disease Control featured the program at its national summit for innovative programs for underserved populations. In 2003 the National Safe and Drug Free Schools network featured a STAR team at their annual conference in Orlando, FL. Numerous Statewide networks, like Peer Assistance and Leadership, and the Texas School Safety Center, have featured STAR teams at their annual conferences. Most recently the program was featured in the National Crime Victim Center’s newsletter, Networks, reaching over 10,000 households across the United States.