Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities

Institute for Educational Leadership Announces Fellows for Fall 2026 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP)TM: Community Schools Cohort 

Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities, Federal Government, Leading Across Boundaries, Local/State Government, Policy/Legislation, Preparing Leaders /

Institute for Educational Leadership Announces Fellows for Fall 2026 Education Policy Fellowship ProgramTM(EPFP): Community Schools Cohort September 9, 2026 (Washington, DC) – The Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) is proud to announce the 2026 National cohort of Fellows for its Fall Education Policy Fellowship Program TM (EPFP): Community Schools, designed to build the capacity of Community Schools

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July Policy by the People Federal Update

Building Pathways to Adulthood, Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities, Events, Federal Government, IEL Initiatives & Partnerships, Leading Across Boundaries, Policy/Legislation, Resources /

What’s Happening in Washington  *Please note: This update may not include all the changes currently happening in the federal government. Here’s what’s happened in federal education policy in the month of July, and what lies ahead. The U.S. Congress The Rush Before August Recess: The U.S. House of Representatives left Washington on July 23 for

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Guiding Lights, Brighter Futures: A CSxFE26 Reflection

Building Pathways to Adulthood, Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities, Events, IEL Initiatives & Partnerships, IEL Leaders, Leading Across Boundaries, Preparing Leaders, Resources /

By Nikkie Baum, CSxFE Volunteer/Attendee; Community School Impact Coordinator, Marie Hughes Community Schools (Albuquerque, NM) The forecast started off cloudy but the smiles inside the Long Beach Convention Center were shining brightly as attendees joined the start of the 2026 National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference during the last week of May. Powered by

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Gathering for Change: How IEL and California Partners Are Shaping the Future of Young People and Community Schools

Building Pathways to Adulthood, Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities, Preparing Leaders /

In California, the movement for Community Schools has been taking shape for decades across universities, school districts, nonprofits, workforce organizations, and city agencies through partnerships grounded in relationships, sustainability, and a shared belief that young people deserve more than fragmented systems. In recent years, momentum for Community Schools has only increased, as the strategy provides

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Institute for Educational Leadership and Backrs Announce New Technology Partnership Focused on Coaching and Student Supports 

Building Pathways to Adulthood, Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities, Leading Across Boundaries, Preparing Leaders, Resources /

May 11, 2026: The Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) and Backrs are thrilled to jointly introduce to their networks a new partnership that will combine IEL’s national network and leadership footprint with the scalable postsecondary and career support models provided by Backrs to strengthen the impact of Community Schools, Districts, and Nonprofit partners.  School leaders are being asked to deliver stronger postsecondary and career outcomes under increasing constraints including unsustainable advising ratios, counselor

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Institute for Educational Leadership Announces Leadership Transition, Celebrates President Eddie Koen’s Tenure, and Appoints Kwesi Rollins as Interim President

Building Pathways to Adulthood, Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities, Leading Across Boundaries, Preparing Leaders /

IEL remains committed to our values and work to partner, innovate, and lead to advance opportunities for all children, youth, and families. Washington, DC – 4/24/26 – The Board of Directors of the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) announced today that President and CEO Eddie Koen will be departing IEL in May to pursue a

Institute for Educational Leadership Announces Leadership Transition, Celebrates President Eddie Koen’s Tenure, and Appoints Kwesi Rollins as Interim President Read More »

IEL Announces New Partnership with the Alliance for Youth Thriving, Becomes Publisher of Youth Today

Building Pathways to Adulthood, Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities, IEL Initiatives & Partnerships, Preparing Leaders, Resources /

The Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) is thrilled to announce that it is the new publisher of Youth Today and is now the fiscal sponsor of the Alliance for Youth Thriving as part of deeper partnership with Karen Pittman and Merita Irby, thought leaders in youth development and education who are joining IEL as senior

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IEL Celebrates Passing of FY26 Federal Spending Package That Includes Funding for Key Education Programs

Building Pathways to Adulthood, Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities, Federal Government, Leading Across Boundaries, Policy/Legislation /

On February 3, 2026, Congress passed its spending package that will fund the vast majority of the federal government through September 30th of this year, ending a partial government shutdown. IEL celebrates several funding victories for federal programs in this Omnibus appropriations bill that align with our Policy by the People Congressional agenda to advance

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January Policy by the People Federal Update

Building Pathways to Adulthood, Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities, Events, Federal Government, Leading Across Boundaries, Policy/Legislation, Preparing Leaders, Resources /

  What’s Happening in Washington  *Please note: This update may not include all the changes currently happening in the federal government. Here’s what’s been happening in federal education policy in the month of January, and what lies ahead. The U.S. Congress Appropriations Nears End: The House passed a series of minibuses, or spending packages, on

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IEL/Coalition for Community Schools Statement: The Future of the Full-Service Community Schools Grant Must Be Protected

Building Pathways to Adulthood, Connecting Families, Schools, & Communities, Federal Government, Leading Across Boundaries, Policy/Legislation /

January 12, 2026 As Congress considers the nation’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, it is essential that they invest in children, youth, and families by funding the Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) Grant Program at $135 million. Community Schools are a proven strategy for success in thousands of schools across the country. Impact spans both academic and

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