T.L.C.- Total Learning Community; expansion into Melzer Elementary School

The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).

The purpose of this project is to expand the nationally-award winning TLC: Total Learning Community Afterschool Program into Melzer Elementary School. The population to be served are students not only from the Melzer School area, but from around Maine Township, as well. 51% of Melzer students are from multi-cultural backgrounds, primarily Hispanic and Asian. Students at Melzer would benefit from the academic enrichment, safe and supervised environment that TLC provides. Additionally, having the TLC Afterschool Program housed at Melzer would eliminate the need for students to travel to another school to receive services, thereby raising the likelihood of student enrollment in TLC. Activities that the students would engage in include homework assistance and tutoring, fitness and recreation, the All-Stars Prevention Program (alcohol, drug and tobacco prevention), science and technology, art, drama and sports. The goals for the Melzer TLC Program are the same as the goals of our existing TLC Programs: 1) To improve academic achievement through expanded learning and enrichment opportunities; 2) To provide a safe, drug and alcohol-free environment that offers supervised, planned academic, social and recreational activities; 3) To provide the community with Community Learning Centers where residents expand their knowledge through lifelong learning opportunities as well as providing informative health, education and social services through community partnerships. Progress will be measured by pre and post surveys, teacher evaluations and report card data. NCA/NCF