Every day, schools and communities across the U.S. identify millions of young children as "at risk"--especially those with a minority background, who live in poor neighborhoods or are learning English as a second language. FPG's Project U-STARS-PLUS (Using Science, Talents, and Abilities to Recognize Students-Promoting Learning for Under-Represented Students) has turned the "at-risk" stereotype on its head. Rather than assuming children are at-risk, U-STARS-PLUS assumes "at-potential." Project U-STARS-PLUS works with school districts to support elementary teachers in the early recognition and nurturing of outstanding potential in children. The philosophy of U-STARS-PLUS is to recognize children's strengths by: (1) providing an environment that nurtures students intellectually and emotionally; and (2) observing students systematically. The project is characterized by five components: (1) High-end challenging learning opportunities; (2) Systematic observation of students to identify potential to inform instruction; (3) Hands-on, inquiry-based science lessons that focus on exploration, problem solving, higher-level thinking, creativity, and persistence and that can be meaningfully integrated across the curriculum; (4) Parent and family engagement in school and academic areas of interest; and (5) Systemic change through capacity building.