It’s not just shy kindergarteners and grumpy middle schoolers heading off to school this fall. All three school districts serving Woodbury residents offer classes for infants to senior citizens through community education.
In Minnesota the goal of community education is to improve quality of life by providing lifelong learning opportunities for all members of the community. About $6 of your tax levy combined with program fees fund community education.
Each of the school districts provide services in these general areas:
- Adult basic education includes free classes for those over 17 without high school diplomas so they can complete their educations with either a GED or a diploma. A variety of English as a Second Language, citizenship preparation, and preprofessional classes are offered.
- Adult enrichment includes a wide range of classes both in person and virtually covering topics in cooking, fitness, the arts, career growth, money management, skill development and even more.
- Senior citizens have access to programming for adults that meet the social, educational, health and human service needs of people 50 and over.
- Adults with disabilities are entitled to accommodations in all classes but can also participate in special programs geared to those with developmental disabilities.
- Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) provides support to parents and other caregivers of children from birth to age five, to provide the best possible environment for their child’s learning and growth,
- Preschool programming provides classes for three- and four-year-olds.
- Youth services include enrichment, athletics, and before and after school childcare.
South Washington County Community Education offers classes at multiple sites in Woodbury as well as in the southern part of the district. It also works cooperatively with other districts to provide adult basic education and services for folks with developmental disabilities. While some classes are free and financial assistance is needs-based, most enrichment classes charge full tuition. A catalog of fall programming lists options ranging from homemade egg rolls to Bunco games.
Stillwater Schools Community Education offers 108 classes for adults this fall with lots of fitness choices including pickleball, instruction in the perfect pie crust, and on-line conversational Spanish. Afterschool classes at Brookview offer chess, a Science Fair camp, and Wickedly Wondrous Art.
District 622 Community Education offers multiple enrichment opportunities from Tango classes to lessons in making apple cider donuts. The Harmony Adult Education Center pools the resources of several districts, providing not just basic instruction but preprofessional instruction in a number of fields, including entry-level medical careers and school bus driving. District 622 is the lead organization for the Community Bridge Consortium offering classes and events for those with developmental disabilities.
Clearly in Woodbury you’re never too old to learn something new.
