The Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) is now accepting applications for its sixth cohort, offering a funding opportunity designed to support Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in California in expanding their community engagement efforts. This initiative, established in 2019 as part of the California Statewide System of Support, is dedicated to fostering authentic and systemic partnerships between school districts and their communities with the ultimate goal of improving educational outcomes for all students—particularly those from underserved populations such as English learners, low-income students, and foster youth.
CEI 2.0 is led by the San Diego County Office of Education in collaboration with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, the University of San Diego, and Eskolta School Research and Design. This collaborative framework brings a research-based, equity-centered lens to community engagement, helping participating districts build sustainable practices for inclusion and shared decision-making.
LEAs that are accepted into Cohort 6 of the CEI will receive an annual stipend to support their participation and implementation efforts. While specific funding amounts are not mentioned in the announcement, previous cohorts have used these stipends to support staffing, professional development, and community partnership-building activities. Participation in CEI offers LEAs access to a community of practice, targeted training, and ongoing technical support to deepen their engagement strategies.
The application window is open from March 3, 2025, through April 15, 2025. All application steps and details are available on the California Engage webpage and within the official Request for Applications (RFA) document. Applicants are encouraged to review the RFA closely to understand the eligibility requirements, selection criteria, and expectations for participating LEAs.
For further support during the application process, interested LEAs can contact CEI leadership, including Senior Director Dr. Erin Mahoney, as well as District Advisors Dr. Brittany Mabe and Casey Lange. This opportunity is especially valuable for school districts aiming to build trust, co-design solutions with families and community members, and embed community voice into school improvement processes.
