The goal of Reading Recovery is to help children become independent readers equipped with solid reading skills who will continue to succeed in school. Stars is a summer program that works with children who have had little or no preschool experiences. The program seeks to bring the children to the appropriate level in both academic and social skills. It also enables the parents of these children to participate in work sessions to learn how to work on academic and social skills with their children and how to actively engage in their child's education. Middle and high school students volunteer as clerks of court, bailiffs, defense attorneys, prosecutors and jurors.
Every participant takes a confidentiality oath.
District or Superior Court Judges or attorneys preside as Teen Court Judge. Offenders admit guilt and the jurors determine sentencing, which involves community service and Teen Court duty with offenders returning to serve as jurors. In addition to court referrals, Teen Court accepts referrals of misdemeanors and school offenses directly from law enforcement officers, including School Resource Officers. In collaboration with Durham Public Schools, Teen Court accepts truancy referrals involving middle and high school students. There is now a statewide Teen Court association, and student volunteers have the opportunity to participate in conferences.