Education

Community Education - Community Education

Statewide Outcome(s):

Community Education supports the following statewide outcome(s).

Minnesotans have the education and skills needed to achieve their goals.

Strong and stable families and communities.

Context:

The state and local school districts have invested significant resources in school district facilities.  The majority of facilities go unused after school hours.  Communities have a need to provide educational opportunities for adults and/or youth programs to engage young people in the community and provide structured activities after school hours.  The community education programs are intended to maximize the community’s use of public schools and to promote the use of school facilities beyond the regular school day.  Community education programs provide lifelong learning opportunities for all community members and access to school facilities for public use.

Strategies:

The state community education program began in 1971 and is funded through both aid and levy.  School boards must establish a community education advisory council and, with some exceptions, must employ a licensed community education director.  Together they determine how best to use school facilities and community resources to meet the needs of their community.

Community education provides services beyond the regular K-12 program and may include:

·         adults with disabilities;

·         adult basic education (ABE);

·         youth development;

·         youth service;

·         early childhood family education (ECFE);

·         school-age care;

·         summer programs for elementary and secondary pupils;

·         youth after-school enrichment programs

·         school readiness programs; and

·         non-vocational, recreational, and leisure activities.

Every Minnesota school district operates a community education program.  Programs serve children and adults of all ages.

Results:

MDE has had no staff dedicated to community education since 2001. Data are reported by school districts. MDE shares reported data with the Minnesota Community Education Association who undertakes efforts to improve community education for its participating members. MDE collects no data to show impact of the programming other than the number of individuals that received services.

Performance Measures Notes:

Previous data is from FY 2009 and current data is from FY 2011.

Participants reported does not include those reported separately under ECFE, ABE, and early childhood screening. Community Education participation numbers are self-reported by districts in the Community Education Annual Report. FY 2009 numbers reflect 265 districts reporting. FY 2011 numbers reflect 290 districts reporting. Individuals may be counted more than once if they participated in multiple services.