IEL equips leaders to prepare children and youth for college, careers, and citizenship in four different areas: 1) leadership, 2) professional development, 3) policy, and 4) innovative strategies.
IEL encourages leaders to work across institutional boundaries, increase their knowledge, and expand their networks. IEL focuses on educational leadership, youth leadership, parent and family leadership, and community leadership.
IEL's professional development efforts focus on building organizational and individual capacity, convening policy seminars and events, and fostering professional and peer learning networks and communities of practices.
IEL bridges research, policy, and practice to identify and promote innovative and compelling strategies related to early childhood education, schools and communities, and youth transition to adulthood.
IEL runs a variety of initiatives that benefit children, youth, and families and the professionals and organizations that serve them, including the Education Policy Fellowship Program, Coalition for Community Schools, Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program, Family and Community Engagement Network, and more.