Chandler Unified highlights Community Education: Kids Express, summer academy and preschools say enrollment rebounding
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Summary
District leaders reported steady demand for before‑and‑after care, summer learning and preschool programs, but said a $6 million stabilization grant that temporarily boosted participation has expired.
Scott Vandermillan, director of community education for Chandler Unified School District, told the board on March 26 that the department operates five divisions — Summer Academy, sports and enrichment, facility rentals, early childhood education and Kids Express before‑and‑after care — and serves thousands of local families.
Vandermillan said Kids Express operates at 26 elementary campuses and covers kindergarten through sixth grade, with hours generally from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and that the department recently ran intersession camps that enrolled 506 children and took them to the Phoenix Zoo. He said registration figures vary day to day and that combined registrations for Club CUSD, enrichment and the Chandler Sports League totaled 4,802 since Jan. 1.
“We offer before and after school programs,” Michelle Castle, a Kids Express activity coordinator, said. Vandermillan said the district operates preschool and pre‑K at multiple sites; at the time of the presentation preschool seats were about 84% full for the current year and 65% enrolled for 2025–26 while registration remained open.
The district previously used a federal child‑stabilization grant of roughly $6 million to offer many enrichment and summer programs at low or no cost; Vandermillan said that grant has expired and that participation has declined since the subsidy ended. He said the department is evaluating program mix, pricing and partnerships to remain competitive with YMCA, AAU and other providers.
Vandermillan described plans and recent changes to intersession camp capacity: the department reduced the number of sites but increased capacity per site, for example hosting summer Kids Express camps at two sites with 350 slots each. He said registration can fill quickly when it opens but that families often cancel early bookings, freeing space.
Other details presented: summer academy served just over 750 students last year across elementary, junior high and high school sites; the department has roughly 87 children in Little Explorers childcare across three sites; vendor‑led enrichment and facility rentals are a significant part of the program; and the Chandler Sports League has seen declines in some activities amid stronger outside competition.
Why it matters: Community education programs provide childcare, enrichment and early learning options that support working families and student engagement outside the school day. The expiration of a one‑time stabilizing grant has reduced subsidized slots and pushed the department to adjust capacity, pricing and outreach.
Vandermillan asked the board to note that the department is exploring new program options (including nontraditional sports and Esports), monitoring pricing against local competitors, and seeking grant opportunities to restore subsidized access where possible.
The presentation concluded with information about how to register (cusd80.com → Departments → Community Education) and an invitation to contact the department for facility rentals, preschool registration and summer academy enrollment.
