Tamaqua Area School District hopes to have a renowned after-school program in place by the start of next school year.

The school board's Education Committee on Tuesday recommended entering into an agreement to support Lehigh Carbon Community College applying for grant money to establish the SHINE Program at Tamaqua Elementary.Superintendent Ray Kinder said LCCC would apply for the grant for the district's students.Kinder said there would be no cost to the district, other than the use of the Tamaqua Elementary building.He said he believes a prior attempt by the district to start up the SHINE Program was unsuccessful because it wasn't eligible for the grant at that time.Kinder said the program has a strong track record."The program provides opportunities for struggling students to enter a program with proven results," Kinder said."The SHINE program provides support to students and families with the goal of offering STEM-based activities to motivate students to their full potential."SHINE has been a successful after-school model, administered by LCCC in Carbon and Schuylkill counties, for over a decade.