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Attitude is everything...and our hope with the Chisago Lakes Community Education program is to encourage community leaders in our area and in our school system to adopt an attitude of positively facing the changes and challenges in our communities and schools.

Community education extends the concept of public education beyond the traditional K-12 program known as “schooling.” It is not limited by traditional school schedules and roles.

The Chisago Lakes program focuses on community needs. Do the children in our community need before and after school childcare? Do their families need support from community agencies? Is there a need for after school enrichment activities? Do adults in our community need literacy training or job skills?

The Chisago Lakes Community Education philosophy is that schools are not just places to teach children, but centers for the entire community, because learning is lifelong.

Community education programs statewide truly have a local based decision making process at the heart of the programs. For this reason the programs do reflect what the local community needs are and every community has resources that can be used to meet the needs and improve community lift.

Chisago Lakes has a very large, comprehensive program providing opportunities for people to work together and to improve both their lives and the life of their community. We are constantly looking for good people to fill roles on our advisory council. If you have an interest in becoming involved with the Community Education Advisory Council, call (651) 213-2600.

Chisago Lakes Community Education is known for the programs that touch individual’s lives. If you are a parent of a preschooler, you probably know about our Early Childhood Family Education program, but you may not know about our Mature Driving Class. If you have school age children, you may know about our Kids Club program or after school enrichment but you may not know about our adult enrichment offerings. We offer both learning and enrichment opportunities for residents of all ages, educational backgrounds and socioeconomic levels, including those who have special needs.

Chisago Lakes School District has a long lasting community education program, with over 25 years of programming that has gained endorsement by community policy makers and educational leaders within our district. It has taken dedicated attention to many details to establish a process for involving community members in the identification of community needs and the mobilization of community resources to meet those needs.

Community Education works. Through our Family Center: early childhood and family education classes, school readiness classes, Little Wildcat preschool, early childhood screening and early childhood special events. Through our youth programs: after school recreation, summer enrichment, Kids Club before and after school childcare, summer athletic camps and clinics, after school enrichment programs and driver’s education.

Through our adult programs: adult enrichment classes, adult basic education, GED, parent family education programs and adult fitness and recreation program.

We also schedule all school facilities for community use and coordinate the community wide Business, Home and Garden Show each year.

With a can-do attitude and a strong support of the community at large, we have been able to accomplish much. We are committed to a continuing attitude of serving our communities and meeting the needs as they are identified.

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