Terry Feinberg
University of Illinois Extension
Rockford Center
417 Ware Ave., Suite 102
Rockford, IL 61107-6412
(815) 397-7714 ext. 223, (815) 397-8620 fax

Jeri Marxman
University of Illinois Extension
539 Bevier Hall
901 S. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 244-2850, (217) 244-2861 fax

Bryan Smith
Township Officials of Illinois
408 S. Fifth St.
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 744-2212, (217) 744-7419 fax

Gary Koch
Illinois Municipal League
500 E. Capitol
P.O. Box 5180
Springfield, IL 62705-5180
(217) 525-1220

To provide information on local government to citizens is a daunting task but University of Illinois Extension decided to begin in the state’s high schools through introduction of this curriculum. Its eight units and nearly 75 adaptable activities are an excellent educational tool where none existed, a direction for active participation by students, and a demystification of the process to provide opportunity for becoming a part of local governments in the future.

Development of this curriculum incorporated the efforts of Extension’s Community and Economic Development and Youth Development Educators and Specialists, Extension Unit Leaders and representatives of the state’s three (municipal, county and township) local government associations. Additional expertise came from external resources in state and local governments. Local government officials were solicited to provide personal insights (included in the curriculum) and to support the use of the curriculum statewide. The State’s Treasurer and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity provided the printing of the accompanying Student Handbook (one per student per class) and the roll-out press conference of the project took place in the State Legislature. Presentations of the curriculum were made at meetings of the local government associations in order to garner statewide support and over 125 teachers and Extension Educators have already been trained in the use of and provided hardcopy and electronic versions of this curriculum—at no charge—and has been used statewide since the 2003 pilots. The training for this curriculum is ongoing with summer, fall and spring trainings planned for 2004-05.