The wheels on the bus go round and round, getting our students to and from school safely. This #NationalSchoolBusSafetyWeek, let's thank all of our school bus drivers for all they do - and let's do our part to help kids stay safe getting to school!

We look forward to hearing from David and our other expert speakers! Join us: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Missed it? 🎥 Watch Speaking Out, Staying Safe on demand! Learn how educators & public employees can protect their free speech rights + stay safe online. 👉 sharemylesson.com/webinars/fre... @penamerica.bsky.social @ncacensorship.bsky.social @rweingarten.bsky.social @aft.org @aftteach.bsky.social

Smarter classrooms, real results: How AI is rewriting the rules of education

Take a look back at our 2025 Nat'l Community School & Family Engagement Conference that took place in Minneapolis, MN! This annual gathering is a place to recharge, connect, and recommit to ensuring every child has a safe home, strong schools, and the opportunity to thrive. youtu.be/xFdvgXGmLLg

New research from @parentstogether.bsky.social reveals what U.S. students REALLY think about their schools. ✅ 78% say their school is “good” or “excellent.” ✅ Biggest gap? Media & policymakers focus on culture wars, while students care most about feeling safe & supported.

Today is the last day to register for our #CollaborativeLeadership Micro-credential Course! Participants are supported with a leadership coach, a small cohort of peers (8-10), and a toolkit for implementation that directly supports the work. Register now: s.alchemer.com/s3/d9a068edb...

Happy fist day of #October! Check out our IEL September Policy by the People Federal Update for the latest news, views, & tools in federal education policy, including background info about the #GovernmentShutdown, which went into effect last night. Read more: iel.org/september-20...

Join our Institute: "Build a Culture of Care, Safety, & Belonging in Schools" to deepen understanding of current state & fed policies impacting immigrant & refugee students & fams, participate in a 6-mo. community of practice for ongoing support & collaboration & more! Learn more: conta.cc/3KDuHuK

Register now for our Collaborative Leadership course that culminates in an IEL micro-credential and digital badge! IEL’s micro-credentials empower you to lead with purpose, collaboration, and trust. (Please note new dates: October 9 - December 4) s.alchemer.com/s3/d9a068edb...

Join us on Tuesday, September 30th with our partners at Clear Impact for an intensive webinar on Results Based Accountability (RBA) and best data practices on selecting, gathering, reporting, and analyzing data to best tell your organization’s story! Learn more and register: conta.cc/4msefe0

Thank you to all who helped celebrate #CommunitySchool Coordinators Appreciation Week 2025 last week! Together, we are showing the world how #CoordinatorsRock. Take a look back at some of the campaign's highlights, including a congressional CAW resolution and Hill Day! conta.cc/4nfhGpQ

Register now for IEL's Collaborative Leadership Micro-Credential Course! Are you a Principal or Asst. Principal? A Community School Coordinator or Teacher Leader? We have an amazing opportunity for you! Deepen your school leadership practice with IEL’s 10wk experience: s.alchemer.com/s3/d9a068edb...

Today, more than ever, schools and districts need strategies to foster care, safety, and belonging, especially for immigrant and refugee students and families. We invite you to join our two-day virtual institute and six-month community of practice: conta.cc/4gifvPD

Today IEL listened in at the Senate HELP Committee Hearing on "The State of K-12 Education." We were excited to hear references to the effectiveness and impact of #CommunitySchools from @brookings.edu's Dr. Rebecca Winthrop, as well as in online testimony: www.help.senate.gov/hearings/the...

Schools across the country are navigating historic challenges—from chronic absence to deepening achievement gaps. But a growing body of evidence shows that #CommunitySchools work. New LPI research looking at the impacts in CA shows significant impacts: learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/ca-c...

Check out this powerful blog from our Higher Education Policy Director, Roxanne Garza: http://edtru.st/46b6aWp

U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) & Senator Van Hollen (MD) introduced a resolution in both chambers, recognizing September 14-20th 2025 as Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week! Thank you to these #CommunitySchool champions for recognizing all the ways #CoordinatorsRock! iel.org/u-s-represen...

Today, IEL convened Fellows from our EPFP: #CommunitySchools cohort for a Community Schools Coordinator Appreciation Week (CAW) Hill Day! The Hill Day was the culminating portion of the Fellows' Washington Policy Seminar (WPS), the capstone event of the Fellow experience.

Interested in K-20 #EducationPolicy? Work to grow and/or sustain public ed at the school, district, community, county, postsecondary, state, or nat'l level? Work for a #CommunitySchool, school district, a nonprofit, intermediary, university, gov, or philanthropy? Apply now: iel.org/our-work/epfp/

A new report from @all4ed.org dives into the unique challenges youth in foster care face and offers actionable policy recommendations to improve their educational and health outcomes. all4ed.org/publication/...

Celebrate the Community School Coordinators in your network w/ a toolkit from @ielconnects.bsky.social . It's full of great resources to help you highlight their impact! 📚 Access the toolkit: docs.google.com/document/d/1... #CoordinatorsAppreciationWeek

We're proud to celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth! This is a celebration of the "contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more." latino.si.edu/learn/teachi...

Unlock the secrets of authentic school-family relationships that fuel academic achievement! This #PTHVWeek event highlights how #HomeVisits are transforming school communities. Join @pthvp.bsky.social on 9/18 and hear about the difference they make. Sign up here: pthvp.org/event/rooted...

Hear from top education leaders at the “Rooted in Relationships” webinar! Join #PTHV's Andrea Prejean, CAFE at MAEC’s Dr. Rita Perez, & experts from @ielconnects.bsky.social, United Way, @neatoday.bsky.social, & more to discuss how #Homevisits transform schools. Register: pthvp.org/event/rooted...

#CommunitySchool Coordinators are aiming for your students’ success! Let’s give them a big ‘Thank you’ Sept. 14 - 20, 2025 during Coordinators Appreciation Week! #CoordinatorsRock Learn more at: www.communityschools.org/coordinators...

Yesterday, the House Approps Committee completed its markup of the Labor-H bill for FY26. Unfortunately, the amendment to expand funding for Title I & to include funding for Full-Service Community Schools didn't pass. See more about the approps process and next steps below: iel.org/wp-content/u...

IEL today sent a letter to the House Approps. Labor-H Subcommittee w/ 369 sign-ons, asking them to match the Senate's $135M approved funding for the Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) Program in FY26, or to fund at the highest level. Watch Appropriations here @5PM: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFB0...

LPI explains how four states (California, Texas, New York, and Florida) would receive at least $265 million less in federal K–12 funding under the administration’s proposal compared to the Senate’s proposal across these nine programs: learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/5-billi...

Did you know that your PTA can apply for grants to boost student engagement and bring innovative programs to your school? Funding opportunities are available in the areas of digital safety, STEM, healthy lifestyles, the arts, youth and family engagement and more! Apply today: PTA.org/Grants.

Please join us on Tuesday, August 26 for our Back-to-School Town Hall, where we will be sharing what to expect from us this upcoming year, federal policy updates, and an overview of the 2025 Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week (CAW). Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

In the Mississippi Delta, Community Schools are creating pathways for opportunities. Discover how educators, district leaders, and community partners are coming together to bridge the gap and drive meaningful change. www.neafoundation.org/ideas-voices...

Did you get our summer issue of the IEL Connects newsletter yesterday? If not, we've got you - read to stay informed about the latest IEL news and network updates as we work to create better opportunities for all children, youth, and families together: conta.cc/46WRU4k

A new policy brief highlights how dual language immersion programs can promote equity, integration, and opportunity when access is inclusive and intentional. The brief draws on two decades of data from LAUSD and offers key strategies to ensure all students are served. Read: tinyurl.com/uv6tfb72

ICYMI it this week, check out our July #Policy by the People Federal Update for the latest in Congress, the Department of Education, the White House, and more: iel.org/july-2025-po...

📉Reading scores are falling. States are changing how they teach reading, but the job isn't done. Literacy is a civil right & @edtrust.bsky.social has conceived 6 #literacy principles to make sure every student – no matter their background – can become a skilled reader. Read here: edtru.st/3H8PHIr

The grants fund a wide range of education programs, including migrant education, services for English language learners and adult education.

Thank you for speaking up for our students and families! This afternoon, the U.S. ED announced they will be releasing over $5 billion in FY25 education grant funding for states, after first announcing in June that these previously approved Federal grants would be withheld for further review.

🌟 Join us with Attendance Works on August 6th for a webinar on how "Student Connectedness Fosters Attendance and Engagement!" Explore how nurturing belonging helps all students to show up #HereTodayReadyForTomorrow! 🔗 Register: www.attendanceworks.org/resources/we...

Educators can help prevent sexual harm in schools. Get free resources that can make a difference: sharemylesson.com/blog/educato... @ssais.bsky.social @sashclubs.bsky.social

Just in time for this weekend's 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this is a great set of resources for families supporting children with disabilities, from the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center: ohiofamiliesengage.osu.edu/family-resou... #ADA35

Happy Disability Pride Month!

🌟 Join us and Attendance Works on 8/6 for the next Attendance Awareness Campaign webinar! Explore how nurturing belonging & connection helps students show up. #HereTodayReadyForTomorrow! 🔗 Register: www.attendanceworks.org/resources/we...

Happy #SummerLearningWeek! We encourage fellow organizations, educators, and community leaders to join us and share their summer learning resources and tag #SummerLearningWeek. Let’s give kids an amazing summer! #KeepKidsLearning #SummerPrograms #YouthSuccess

Join us for our next Virtual Check-In: Understanding Recent Supreme Court of the United States Decisions and Actions, on Wednesday, July 30th from 3:00–3:30 PM EDT. This session is an opportunity for us to come together in clarity, courage, and collective action: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

#GLRWeek2025 will explore what's working to reduce chronic absenteeism in VA & CO! Join us with @campaignforglr.bsky.social, Virginia Department of Education, @codepted.bsky.social, & more on Wed 7/30, 12:30 ET to learn how strategic efforts are paying off. #AttendanceWorks REGISTER: bit.ly/4lkzOOl

We’re proud to support National #SummerLearningWeek, led by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA)! It shines a spotlight on the power of summer learning and is a celebration that elevates the importance of keeping kids engaged, safe, and healthy during the summer months. #KeepKidsLearning

The President’s FY26 Budget Request proposes eliminating funding for Full-Service Community Schools.W/ the Appropriations process starting, the time to act is now. Join our FSCS Day of Action this Friday at 1pm ET! Raise your voice by urging Congress to protect #FSCS. us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

🚨 With proposed zeroing out of federal funds for #CommunitySchools for FY26 and impending cuts to other vital programs, it’s more important than ever to advocate for Community Schools. Take our survey to help ensure these schools are counted & protected for our communities: bit.ly/countcs

In a new report, @georgetowncew.bsky.social‬ finds that the US is facing shortages of middle-skills credentials that provide pathways for early-career workers to secure jobs in occupations that are high-paying for workers without a bachelor’s degree. Read more: bit.ly/3F98McL