The International Students Success Program was first implemented at an established Los Angeles international high school. The school's staff at this particular high school had grown frustrated with the pattern of behavioral problems that developed among the international student body, 20 percent of whom had a GPA below the required 2.0 needed to maintain I-20 student visas. Frequently absent, these students rarely completed coursework or participated in class. On one occasion, they were banned from a field trip site on account of their unruly behavior.

Bright Start's president, Gary Surdam, implemented the intervention program with these students and after six months, improvements were shown. By the end of the first quarter of the following school year all students added at least 2.0 to their GPA and were well above the I-20 requirement. The largest improvement was seen by a student from China who previously held a 0.0 GPA. Within six months of participating in the program, his GPA rose to 3.2. He is an example of how  these international students have potential to succeed but lack the guidance and motivation to get there.

"Gary designed the program to encourage the students in attendance, behavior and academic work. He then administered the program with excellent results," said the principal from the high school previously mentioned. "As a result of this intervention all the seniors graduated and matriculated to the college or university that they had chosen."  "The response from the students were positive and they quickly realized the opportunity and support being provided," said a teacher about the program. "Some students even asked to be in this program to stay on track!"