Institute for Educational Leadership

06/05/2026

At the end of May, NCFL President & CEO Dr. Felicia C. Smith joined fellow members of the National Action Commission on stage at the Institute for Educational Leadership’s national conference to consider how alignment across schools, families, and communities can drive transformation and systemic impact.

One key takeaway: that education systems can better serve families and communities when treat Pre-K-12 and adult learning as interconnected, and create opportunities for multigenerational learning to occur.

06/03/2026

Last week, members of our Community Schools team joined leaders from across the country at the Institute for Educational Leadership Guiding Lights Conference.

Jennifer Ayers and Kara Strouse presented and learned alongside others who are passionate about supporting students, families, and building stronger communities.

Opportunities like this allow us to share ideas, build connections, and bring new insights back to East Tennessee.

We're grateful for educators, community partners, and leaders across our country who continue to move this work forward.

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

The Trump administration is withholding more than $2 billion for education that Congress approved in February.

Education Week has a list of all the affected programs. This article will be updated as new information emerges.

💲 Read more: https://bit.ly/4dpfw4u

05/18/2026

The data says "evidence-based outcomes."

You call it Tuesday. You call it showing up when it's hard. You call it believing a 4-year-old can go further than anyone expected—and proving it.

61 years of Head Start. Happy birthday to the people who make it real.

05/14/2026

🏃Movement is medicine.

Being active is a key component to building healthier and happier communities, and engaging in sport and play offers so many organic and unique points of connection.

Get active this National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and invite the young people around you to do the same! Need ideas to get started?

Check out https://bit.ly/4bj8FHk for more resources!

04/29/2026

💬 Join us, the Institute for Educational Leadership and campaign partners on May 13 from 12-1:30 p.m. PT / 3-4:30 p.m. ET for the second webinar in the 2026 Attendance Awareness Campaign series: Engage and Build Bridges in the Summer. Summer offers an opportunity to reconnect students with their school, nurture belonging and build excitement about learning before the new school year begins.
In this free webinar, practitioners will share practical resources and examples of how schools and districts are:
▪️Using chronic absence data to design outreach and summer opportunities
▪️Creating meaningful summer experiences that strengthen students’ connection to school
▪️Equipping staff to support strong attendance and engagement in the fall
📢 Don’t miss this free event
🔗 Register: https://ow.ly/3SRY50YHf2W
Attendance Works | Campaign for Grade-Level Reading | Communities In Schools | Everyone Graduates Center | FutureEd | Healthy Schools Campaign | Learning Heroes | MENTOR | National League of Cities | United Way

04/15/2026

🏫 The summer months can play an important role in helping students feel connected, supported and ready to return to school. Join us on May 13 at 12-1:30 p.m. PT / 3-4:30 p.m. ET for Engage and Build Bridges in the Summer, the second webinar in the 2026 Attendance Awareness Campaign series.
You’ll learn how to:
▪️ Reconnect students through fun and meaningful summer experiences
▪️ Use chronic absence data to guide outreach and support
▪️ Prepare staff to foster attendance and engagement in the fall

https://ow.ly/xRGs50YHinp
Attendance Works | Campaign for Grade-Level Reading | Communities In Schools | Everyone Graduates Center | FutureEd | Healthy Schools Campaign | Learning Heroes | MENTOR | National League of Cities | United Way | Institute for Educational Leadership

04/06/2026

The Trump administration wants lawmakers to once again consider notable education spending cuts and program eliminations.

🏛️ Read more: https://edw.link/075d1f

04/06/2026

Thank you for having us!

We were thrilled to have our partners from Institute for Educational Leadership in the house this week discussing all things (Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program) and !