FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Philadelphia, PA – June 1, 2023 – The Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) is excited to announce the 2023 National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference, hosted in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Office of Children and Families. 

Over 4,000 participants will gather at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown from June 7-9 for an interdisciplinary conference filled with high-quality professional development experiences, learning opportunities, and networking sessions designed to enhance attendees’ knowledge of Community Schools and Family Engagement.

The conference aims to foster collaboration, inspire action, and renew the commitment to transforming educational practices, partnerships, and systems. With the theme “Spreading Love & Supporting All Children,” this event will empower participants to disrupt generational poverty, eliminate systemic racial, class, and disability barriers, and promote greater equity for all.

“We look forward to this opportunity each year to bring together educators and professionals from various sectors to share best practices and innovative approaches to Community Schools and Family Engagement,” said Eddie Koen, President of IEL. “This conference will serve as a platform for collaboration and collective action to create a more equitable and inclusive education system.”

The conference gathers educators and representatives from over 100 organizations across the country including parent and youth leaders, school and district leaders, community organizers and union activists, elected officials, Community School coordinators and initiative leaders, education, justice, and health system professionals, early childhood educators, university partners, disability advocates, researchers, and more.

In Philadelphia, a partnership between the School District and the City’s Office of Children and Families allows Community Schools to work with multiple agencies aligning services and creating collaborative structures that utilize grassroots approaches. This year’s conference will highlight a variety of these local systems, policies, and programs including University-Assisted Community Schools, funding structures from the Philadelphia beverage tax, and more. Attendees also have the opportunity to choose from 20 different local site visits to see practices in action – including a program for children of incarcerated fathers at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. 

“The City of Philadelphia is proud to host this year’s Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference, and thrilled for the opportunity to highlight the innovative work that we are doing with the School District to implement a Community Schools strategy,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “Since establishing the first City-supported Community Schools in 2016, we have made significant progress in developing partnerships and strategies that support students’ development, well-being and success. We are excited to share this work with visitors from across the country.” 

The conference will also feature over 20 notable plenary speakers, including Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia; Darrell Clarke, Philadelphia City Council President; Cecily Darden, Special Assistant, Family Outreach, U.S. Department of Education; Dr. Christine Piven, Chief of Prevention, Office of Children and Families, City of Philadelphia, and Jim Kenney, Mayor, City of Philadelphia. During the conference, Elson Nash, Director at the U.S. Department of Education, will also host a special convening for the 42 FY22 Full Service Community Schools grant competition awardees, and on Thursday, June 8th, attendees will join others from their states to further collaborate and build out their state coalitions. 

“We recognize that education and the well-being of a community is a shared responsibility, ” said Vanessa Garrett Harley, Deputy Mayor, City of Philadelphia, Office of Children and Families. “This National conference brings together people at all levels in the education ecosystem that share a common vision of empowering children to reach their full potential by supporting the whole child. Despite the many challenges posed by high poverty in our city, our children have achieved academic growth and improved graduation rates as a result of our shared systems of support. We are excited to share our collective expertise and resources to further build out partnerships and networks that are devoted to this work.” 

“We are honored to host the Institute of Educational Leadership’s 2023 National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference. The district’s new five-year strategic plan will be our roadmap for serving students and preparing them to imagine and realize any future they desire. As superintendent, I see that work as a mutual responsibility between educators, families and community,” said Superintendent Watlington. “Forging strong and collaborative partnerships between schools, families and communities will help us collectively support and accelerate student achievement.”

The Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) is dedicated to a vision of a society that uses all of its resources effectively to provide an equal opportunity for all children and youth to learn, develop, and become active participants in our democracy. Since 1964, IEL has partnered with under-resourced communities to equip leaders to better prepare children, youth, adults, and families for post-secondary education and training, rewarding careers, and civic community engagement.

To learn more about the conference, please visit https://bit.ly/csxfe23. 

Contact:

Mia Perry
Phone: 703-973-9022
Email: Perrym@iel.org

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