When learning expands, community benefits: Illinois: East Maine School District 63.

East Maine School District 63 in Des Plaines, Ill., was named the state's winner of the 2005 Civic Star Award for a program dedicated to advancing education among individuals of all ages and those with special needs.

The program originated after two student assessments indicated that attention was needed in certain areas. Findings of the studies showed that:

* Seventy-five percent of the district's 3,600 students were from homes where English was not spoken.

* Seventy-one percent of students surveyed said they did not have a caring adult role model in their lives.

* Seventy-six percent of students believed the community did not value them.

* Fifty-two percent believed they did not have adequate skills to resist high-risk behaviors.

With the knowledge gained from the data more than three years ago, Superintendent Kathleen Williams compiled a team of school principals, administrators, social service agencies and community members. They applied for and received a highly competitive 21st Century Community Center Learning grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Innovative programs were then created to address identified needs, and community agencies and business partners were recruited to provide resources and expertise. The resulting program, TLC: Total Learning Community, has as its mission to be a community partnership, "working to create and sustain lifelong learning and enrichment opportunities for all."

Since its inception, TLC has established a strong school-community alliance dedicated to advancing education. About 25 community agencies and businesses are involved in the program, providing safe and secure learning environments while offering stimulating educational activities and programs that encourage learning.

The District 63 Education Foundation was re-energized to help finance TLC. Its goal is to build partnerships and raise awareness of the district's needs and, by doing so, to raise money to support TLC beyond its federal funding. Business executives and school and community leaders make up the board of directors.

One major foundation event drew about 500 families to a local pancake restaurant where school administrators, foundation board members, community leaders and TLC staff waited on tables, entertained diners and emphasized the importance of school-community partnerships.

With the help of TLC, the district's schools have become community learning centers, where lifelong learning takes place and TLC partners present creative programs that enhance the quality of life in the community. The program serves the entire community, including senior citizens, individuals with special needs and adults who want to learn English. More than 800 children determined to be at risk of academic failure participate in TLC.

Examples of the kind of school-community collaboration that has taken place as part of TLC include:

* A tutor/mentor program sponsored by HBO, in which 12 HBO employees donated their time every Wednesday to serve as tutor/mentors working with students on reading skills.

* A summer adventure program involving the University of Illinois, which has also worked with students during the school year to help hatch chickens, plant gardens for senior citizens and teach the youths about 4-H clubs.

* An initiative in which JCPenney employees helped buy school supplies for students in need.

* A workshop where a team from Home Depot helped students build toolboxes and wooden cars.

* A TLC tae kwon do program that serves more than 100 students and is taught by a volunteer, who donates his time three evenings a week to teach the mostly non-English-speaking students, emphasizing self-control and self-discipline.

* Family reading nights sponsored by the Niles Public Library District to promote literacy.

* Training in CPR/first aid for the summer TLC staff by the Niles Fire Department.

* Computer training for senior citizens by TLC staff members through a partnership with the Maine Township government.

* Volunteer tutoring by teacher candidates at Northeastern Illinois University.

According to an evaluation by the University of Illinois, students who participated in the first three years of TLC programs have generally raised their grades and feel better about themselves and their schools. In addition, parents are coming to school more often for classes, conferences and open houses.

For more information on the program, contact Superintendent Kathleen Williams at East Maine School District 63, 10150 Dee Rd., Des Plaines, Ill. 60016, or call [phone]. By e-mail, write to [e-mail].