The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Community Schools Initiative (LACOE CSI) joined educators, students and partners from across the country in Long Beach for the 2026 National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference. Hosted by the Institute for Educational Leadership, the conference is one of the largest convenings dedicated to advancing the community schools model across the nation.

As home to the largest network of community schools in the United States, LACOE CSI’s participation emphasized L.A. County's commitment to the California Community Schools Partnership Program. Several leaders from LACOE CSI presented sessions that highlighted how community schools across the region are elevating student voice and strengthening school communities to support the whole child.

Student Voice Insights from L.A. County’s Community Schools Student Catalyst Council

LACOE CSI’s Student Catalyst Council, led by the Greater Los Angeles Regional Transformational Assistance Center (R-TAC), delivered an impactful presentation on how authentic student voice impacts community school implementation. Participants engaged directly with the students and received practical strategies to foster student voice within their communities. 

The Council consists of 10 high school students from various school districts across L.A. County. It is a two-year program, led in partnership with The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health, centered on increasing student advocacy to ensure shared decision-making in support of the California Community Schools Partnership Program.

Special thanks to Nekhoe Hogan, Advocacy Manager for The L.A. Trust, and the members of our Student Catalyst Council: Vilma Aguilar, Madelin Moreno and Ariel Mendez Salinas (Alliance Public Schools); Nakila Alatorre (Lynwood USD); Miley Del Cid and Hosannah Haile (Centinela Valley Union High School District); Caeleb Franklin (Inglewood USD); Chinosom Okpara (Hawthorne School District); Melinda Ruiz (Aspire Public Schools); and JinJin Sanglimsuwan (Covina-Valley USD).

Student Leadership at Don Julian TK-8 School

Highlighting the efforts of LACOE CSI’s School-Based Implementation unit, Community Schools Specialist Angela Garcia and Case Management Specialist Jazmin Martinez, showcased how student agency can begin at an early age. As leaders of the community school strategies at Don Julian TK-8 School (Bassett Unified School District), they presented their experiences in shaping a student-centered environment. The presentation was led in collaboration with students from Don Julian's ROAR Council, an inclusive student leadership group that empowers students as young as fourth grade to co-create solutions. 

The ROAR Council consists of 20 students from Don Julian School. Special thanks to the students who participated in the presentation and led a student panel: Andrew Valdez, Jake Palomera, Litzy Perez, Gianni Portillo, Arthur Kemp, Aiden Rendon, Itzayana Prieto, Daleyza Alfaro, Valeria Cazun, Avelina Allen, Joshua Elizarraraz, Grace Kemp, Edwin Sandoval, Camille Mares, Silah Bhatti, William Sanchez, Annalydia Cortes, Andrew Castro, Camila Salcedo and Daniel Rios.

Building Stronger School Communities Through Social and Emotional Learning

Representing LACOE CSI’s Greater Los Angeles R-TAC, Dr. Kathryn McClendon, Coordinator III, presented a session focused on social and emotional learning (SEL) as a foundational condition for connection, belonging and identity. Participants learned practical, equity-centered strategies to embed SEL into learning environments, reinforcing the community school approach to supporting the whole child.

Celebrating L.A. County’s Decade of Leadership and Impact

A special recognition for Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Debra Duardo, was held during the conference’s Superintendent Networking Lunch. LACOE honored her leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing community schools across the County in celebration of her 10-year anniversary as Superintendent. 

In 2019, Dr. Duardo played a pivotal role in launching LACOE’s Community Schools Initiative to connect schools with health, mental health and family resources to support the whole child. Under her leadership, LACOE CSI continues to expand significantly, now supporting 500 regional community schools in implementing the California Community Schools Partnership Program.

As the community schools movement continues to grow nationwide, L.A. County proudly remains at the forefront, demonstrating what is possible when schools are designed to meet the needs of the whole child and support academic success, wellbeing and equity to enable thriving.