Parent Engagement Institute
Chicago Coalition (PEICC)
We are a coalition of Parent Mentor community organizations representing Chicago’s largest network of neighborhood school parents.
Our mission is clear: to ensure that every community is actively engaged and represented in Chicago’s school board elections.
On November 3, 2026, Chicago residents will elect all of our school board members instead of having them appointed, empowering local communities to influence education leadership directly.
This change aims to enhance community representation and accountability in educational leadership, allowing local voices to play a crucial role in shaping the future of public education in Chicago.
The elections are organized into specific districts, reflecting the diverse neighborhoods within the city, and are a response to ongoing demands for increased transparency and involvement in school governance.
PEI schools cover Chicago
Our new map shows PEI Chicago Coalition schools north, south, west, and east
History of PEI Chicago Coalition
In the Parent Mentor Program, we roll up our sleeves every day to volunteer in classrooms, filling equity gaps by giving love and attention to our students while we work together towards our dream schools and communities.
It is time for our schools and communities to help co-create the future of public education in our city. We believe that If we plant the seeds of love, healing, & knowledge, we will see them blossom and grow our communities together!
If we plant the seeds
of love,
healing,
& knowledge,
we will see them
blossom
and grow
our communities together!
We’ve been planning and preparing for this day a long time. Above: photos from a candidate forum ahead of the 2024 election, and our spring 2026 gathering at GCFD.
FY27 Chicago Parent Mentor Partners
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC)
ONE Northside
Centro de Trabajadores Unidos (CTU)
Palenque LSNA
District Outreach Initiatives (DOI)
Project Vision
Enlace Chicago
South Side Help Center (SSHC)
Family Focus (Nuestra Familia, Englewood, and Lawndale)
Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP)
Future Ties, NFP
Teamwork Englewood (TWE)
Indo American Center
The Resurrection Project (TRP)
Mr. Dad's Father's Club
Westside Health Authority (WHA)
North River Commission
Youth Guidance
Northwest Center (NWC)
Our Pillars for the Chicago Elected School Board
PEICC’s Pillars:
Equitable Funding, Parent & Community Leadership, Authentic Partnerships, Black Student Success, Disability Justice, Whole Child Curriculum, Meeting Mental and Physical Needs, and Safety and Fully Staffed Classrooms.
PEICC’s Vision:
If we plant the seeds of love, hope, healing and knowledge we can see the seeds blossom and grow our communities and build power together!
Equitable Funding
Fully fund ALL CPS schools
Invest in neighborhood schools so more parents would like to send their children to their neighborhood schools (and to prevent further school closures)
Parent & Community Leadership
Intentional parent engagement–through funding, policy, and culture change–that respects, represents, and uplifts parent voices
Make it a priority and common practice to create a welcoming environment for parent & student engagement along with support for them
More robust training/support and a plan to address vacancies for LSCs (Local School Councils)
Engage parents to be decision makers and seek community input in how to increase parent engagement
Listen to students/youth and respect their voice
Strong PACs (Parent Advisory Councils), including reimagining Title I parent engagement funding
Language accessibility (welcoming parents of all backgrounds in resources and policy)
Authentic Partnerships
Transparency and accountability with the community
Expand the Parent Mentor Program
Expand Ladders of Opportunity so schools tap into community talent in hiring
Expand Sustainable Community Schools
Connect CACs (Community Action Councils) with more with families
Increase partnerships with organizations that do parent and youth engagement across the city not just a select few
Black Student Success
Accountability of academic growth and have the emotional support needed specially for black students
Black Student Success with metrics broken out school by school and by networks
Share the plan and progress updates
Address Black male teacher shortage (Black men make up 3.6% of CPS teachers)
Peer-to-peer assistance to help cultivate more Black teachers
DISABILITY JUSTICE
Making sure families of diverse learner students have the resources and support they need by making sure IEPs and 504s plans are being implemented
Special Education Know Your Rights info provided to ALL families regardless of needs (so we know our rights and resources)
Robust programs and resources for students with IEPs and 504s at all schools
No vacancies: CPS Talent Dept works with PEI Ladders of Opportunity to fill vacancies in all necessary positions: para-pros, SECAS (Special Education, Classroom Assistants), teachers, etc.
Disability Justice/Neurodiversity-Affirming professional development and support for all staff, including Special Education Classroom Assistants
Counseling programs for families and students
More bilingual special education staff
WHOLE CHILD CURRICULUM
Developmentally appropriate school day where kids can learn and grow in a holistic way
Smaller class sizes
Well rounded curriculum at schools (arts, music, culture, sports, gardens, recess, play, performing arts, world languages)
Access to world class bilingual education program for ALL (with language immersion)
More Arts at our schools ( plays, musicals, poetry)
Social/racial justice curriculum in partnership with community organizers
Financial literacy
Digital library inside each school
Green spaces for children (community garden)
Tutoring/intervention for low performing students
Career, technical education & workforce support for students and families
College counselors to provide better guidance
More intentional career and college preparation (by bring real life examples and trainings, job shadowing, internships; use formerly closed school spaces)
Immigrant student support and more multilingual staff
MEETING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS
In the school and beyond the school
Counseling and mental health supports for all students and their families
All school properly staffed (counselors, social workers, more guidance counselors, nurses, college counselors, therapists, CHWs, mental health navigators)
Student mental health well being resources (restorative justice, peace room, wellness rooms at all high schools)
Meditation time for all students (Have 15 min mental breaks for H.S. students)
Gardening at all schools for mental health and SEL
When the student has some really complex issues, access to resources for therapy, even if it's to bring the therapist to the school.
Address homeless housing
Substance abuse services and classes for students and their families
Access to wrap-around services at the schools (later, evening, weekends, partner with CBOs to make this happen)
Food Access
SAFETY
Make a holistic plan for student safety beyond reliance on police
Restorative justice expansion
More after school programming
Increased out of school programming especially public safety
Summer CAMPS not summer SCHOOLS
Increase more sustainable community schools across the city
Keep our immigrant families safe
Establish more partnerships of workforce opportunities for students to earn money not just over the summer, but year-round
Fully Staffed Classrooms
Community-based pipelines like Ladders of Opportunity to make sure all roles are filled
Additional staffing for schools with high numbers of staff vacancies and absences
