Putting Communities, Students, and Families at the Center of Decision-Making
CEI reimagines how education systems listen to, learn from, and act with the communities they serve.
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Our Purpose
Why CEI Exists
For too long, educational decisions have been made without meaningful community input. CEI exists to fundamentally change that dynamic.
We believe that the people closest to the impacts of decisions made—students, families, and community members—hold essential knowledge that must shape education policy and practice.
The Problem
Traditional engagement is often performative—checking boxes rather than building trust and shared power.
Our Solution
CEI creates structures and practices that embed community voice throughout the decision-making process.
Our Approach
How CEI Changes Decision Making
CEI creates tangible shifts in how decisions are made, who makes them, and what priorities drive them.
Centering Community, Family, and Student Voice
Decisions start with community input, not end with it. Leaders actively seek and incorporate diverse perspectives before finalizing plans.
Building Trust & Relationships
Long-term relationships replace transactional interactions. Trust is earned through consistent follow-through and transparency.
Sharing Power
Community members gain real influence over policy priorities and program design—not just advisory roles.
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Creating Accountability
Systems establish clear mechanisms for reporting back to communities about how their input shaped decisions and outcomes
Addressing Inequity
CEI prioritizes voices historically excluded from decision-making, actively working to dismantle systemic barriers.
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Measuring Impact
Success is measured not just by outputs but by changed relationships, shifted power dynamics, and improved outcomes for students.
Defining CEI
What CEI Is (and Is Not)
Understanding CEI requires clarity about what makes it different from traditional engagement approaches.
CEI IS
- A systematic approach to integrating community wisdom into decision-making
- Focused on sharing power and building authentic relationships
- Committed to sustained engagement, not one-time events
- Designed to shift systems and culture, not just individual practices
- Accountable to the communities most impacted by educational decisions
CEI IS NOT
- A compliance exercise or checkbox requirement
- A communications strategy or public relations campaign
- Limited to occasional surveys or town halls
- A one-size-fits-all program with rigid requirements
- About maintaining existing power structures
CEI For You
How CEI Supports you and your role
CEI offers tailored support and resources for the different groups who play a role in education.Â
For Students
CEI is here to make sure your voice is hear and that your ideas help improve schools in California. When you participate, you help make schools better for everyone.
Your Voice Creates Change
Your ideas don’t just stay in the room. CEI helps turn student feedback into real change across California schools.
The Student Experience
- Build and strengthen your leadership skills
- Speak up for yourself and your fellow students
- Meet and work with students from all across California
- Learn how decisions about schools are made — and how you can influence them
Speaking Truth to Power
You have the right to understand how decisions are made, to have your input genuinely considered, and to receive feedback about how your voice influenced outcomes.
For Families & Caregivers
CEI exists to make sure your voice is heard. Your experiences matter and can help improve decisions about your child’s education. When families and schools work together, students do better.
Your Voice Matters
You know your child best. You see what is working and what needs to change. CEI creates safe spaces where families can shar ideas, ask questions, and help guide school decisions.
The Family/Caregiver Experience
Build skills to support and speak up for your child
Connect with other families across California
Learn how education systems and decisions work
Partner with educators and leaders to strengthen schools
Partnership in Action
Strong schools are built on trust between families and educators. When we work together with shared goals, students do better. CEI helps families and school build that trust and take action that makes a difference.
For Community Partners
CEI helps you hold your local schools and school districts accountable. The goals of community partners and schools and school districts are often align and represent opportunities for robust partnerships that support students.Â
Partnerships Matter
Libraries, small businesses, youth organizations, and local groups play a vital role in supporting students beyond the classroom. Your programs, mentorship, and resources help create safe, enriching environments where young people can learn and grow. CEI values the role you play in strengthening the broader ecosystem around schools.
CEI For Community Partners
Join school, district, student, and family leaders as equal partners
Work together to solve challenges facing students and families
Take part in shared learning and decision-making spaces
Align your organization’s work with local education goals
Turn community insight into action that supports student success
Stronger Communities, Stronger Schools
When schools and local partners work together, students benefit from a more connected and supportive network. CEI helps foster partnerships that align community strengths with educational goals to create lasting impact for students and families.
For LEA & COE Leaders
Local education agencies and county offices of education are where engagement becomes real. CEI provides practical tools and frameworks for local leaders.
Community Engagement From the Bottom Up
CEI helps you build strong community engagement systems in partnership with those you serve. Through a continuous improvement approach, CEI supports decision-making that leads to sustainable, long-term success.
Built for Success
CEI is intended to strengthen your LEA’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and process. We accomplish this by giving you:
- Actionable protocols and strategies to help accomplish your local goals
- Mentorship by teams who have been through this work before
- Dedicated time and space to accomplish this work hand-in-hand with your students, families, and community partners
For System Partners
Technical assistance providers, research organizations, and advocacy groups play a vital role in supporting CEI. Here’s how partners can contribute.
Technical Assistance
Support districts in designing and implementing effective community engagement strategies aligned with CEI principles.
Research & Evaluation
Document what works, share learning across contexts, and help build the evidence base for community engagement.
Advocacy & Policy
Champion policies and funding that support authentic community engagement at local, state, and federal levels.
For State Leaders
State education agencies play a critical role in setting policy direction and allocating resources. CEI helps state leaders build systems that authentically engage communities.
Policy Integration
Embed community engagement requirements into state plans, accountability systems, and funding formulas.
Capacity Building
Access training, technical assistance, and peer learning networks to support local implementation.
Measurement & Learning
Use data and evidence to track progress and continuously improve engagement practices statewide.
Get Involved
How to get involved
Join us in transforming how education systems engage with the communities they serve.
CEI Lead Agencies