AUGUSTA -- Local schools and the Augusta Boys and Girls Club for Teens won a grant that could provide more than $1 million over the next five years to help at-risk youths.

Leaders hope to use the grant to create after-school programs to teach kids academic and social skills in a way that's different enough and fun enough they'll want to participate.

"We want it to be so engaging kids will want to go," said Barbara Jordan, director of curriculum and instruction for Augusta's public schools. "Make it more fun than going home and sitting in front of the television. If kids are engaged, they don't mind working."

Grant funds of about $300,000 per year will pay the cost of hiring teachers and other staff for after-school programs at each of the city's public schools.

The program would not be mandatory, and officials hope to make the lessons fun so students will want to come.

They could learn science and reading, for example, by building a robot.

Each of the programs will have an academic emphasis in areas including reading, writing, math and science. The types of programs will vary depending on the age and students' needs.

However, a common link will be the students targeted for help -- in general, students struggling in school or at risk of struggling academically or socially.

Many students struggle because they never had a chance to pick up the academic and social skills they need to do well in school, Jordan said.

"Some young kids come into school and they haven't been read to by their parents," Jordan said. "That puts them behind the 8-ball the minute they walk through the door. They just haven't had those life experiences. A lot of the time, they have a difficult time in school academically, socially, or both. If those kids develop a one-on-one relationship with someone who really believes in them, it's going to help them succeed in school."

The 21st Century Community Learning Center grant is funded by federal dollars and administered by the Maine Department of Education.

The grant will help fund after-school programs at the Augusta Boys and Girls Club for Teens, club Executive Director Kathi Wall said.

Wall said the grant will help provide kids with help on homework and also fund programs teaching them how to improve and maintain their health, and interact socially.

Jordan said the program also will provide participating youths a snack and, likely, transportation, although she said they're still working out how transportation would be offered.

At the high school level, grant funds could provide an extended school day, allowing some classes to be offered after the regular school day has ended.

Jordan said that could help students who have to work stay in school, even if their work schedules conflict with the regular school day.

There will be no charge to participate in the programs, which will be open to all students.

Wall noted the grant will help solidify the relationship between the club and schools.

"One of the exciting things is it really solidifies the school-community alliance around education and social issues," Wall said. "The world is just full of learning, it doesn't all have to happen in a classroom."

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com