A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Illinois

Chicago Public Schools

The Chicago Public Schools district has 591 schools serving 491,000 students. A total of 84.5 percent of students come from low-income families. The Chicago QZABs support two programs within the district.

Chicago Public Schools issued Illinois? first QZAB in 1998 to develop the Chicago Military Academy at Bronzeville. The $14 million bond was used to renovate the school to create the nation?s first public military academy. Among private partners, Ameritech contributed the most, a total of $1 million. Other partners included IBM, Unisys, Dell, EMC, Platinum Technologies, Educational Technology Solutions, and Beggs-Heidt. Contributions included computer installation, system and student information systems, and cash donations for textbooks and training.

Another $12 million QZAB will fund significant renovations to the facilities of South Side College Preparatory Academy, a high school with a college preparatory focus. The QZAB money also will be used to create and maintain a technology rich environment within the school. Private partners include United Airlines, John Nuveen & Company, IMC Automation Inc, and BeggsHeldt Enterprise Consulting. The majority of the contributions from Chicago?s businesses will be funds used for textbooks, curriculum development, teacher training, and hiring a full-time technology administrator at South Side. Businesses also will provide mentoring and training opportunities as well as resources for the school.

West Aurora Public School District

The West Aurora Public School District comprises 9,800 students who attend 17 schools. The district is using a $996,000 QZAB to renovate Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, which serves students in kindergarten to fifth grade. Lincoln also houses after-school and summer programs for youth of the surrounding community. The district is located in an urban area, and 70 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

The school is 100 years old and the facilities do not reflect changes in student needs and education programs. The goal of the QZAB project is to make the facility more student-oriented in order to meet the needs of Lincoln?s 250 students. The school?s entryway will be renovated and classrooms will receive electrical, mechanical, wiring, floor, and paint upgrades. Technology also will be upgraded through the QZAB program.

Lincoln has many partners for its QZAB program. Hewlett Packard will donate computers, educational administrative software, and a five-station network server. Perkins & Will Architects will work with school officials on a program plan to design facilities around the Lincoln?s educational program. Lincoln Elementary also has several local entities as partners whose contributions include tutoring services and homework clubs.

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