Families In Schools Launches a Brand-New Coalition: The California Education Promise Alliance
In partnership with Para Los Niños and EdTrust–West, Families In Schools has launched the California Education Promise Alliance, a new statewide coalition bringing together education and community leaders to defend the right to a public education and advance a bold vision for a system that fulfills its promise of opportunity for all students.
California’s public schools are facing a pivotal moment. Unprecedented federal actions, including efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and threats to funding for students who are low-income, have special education needs, are learning English, or come from migrant families, have created deep uncertainty. At the same time, districts across the state are confronting painful budget trade-offs due to declining enrollment and the end of pandemic relief funds.
The California Education Promise Alliance will unite community-based organizations that work with students and families to:
- Provide timely policy analysis and shared information
- Build collective capacity to respond to emerging threats
- Coordinate statewide advocacy and communications
- Create structured spaces for dialogue and regional listening
- Center family voice in shaping policy solutions and engaging institutional leaders
Critical to this work is strengthening trust and alignment among institutional leaders and education powerbrokers who too often operate in silos or align around narrow organizational interests rather than what families want and students need.
“Our goal is nothing less than a public education system that reflects California’s diversity, honors family voice, and keeps students at the center of every decision,” said Yolie Flores, President and CEO of Families In Schools. “At this pivotal moment, building a force to defend the right to public education is essential. But defense alone is not enough. We must also ensure that our system truly works for all children — not just some. That begins by listening deeply to families and shifting from transactional advocacy to relational leadership, where those with the most at stake help chart the path forward.”
The initiative will be led by Jose Arenas, incoming Project Director at Families In Schools. Jose brings more than two decades of experience in community organizing and education advocacy, including leading statewide efforts, supporting parent-led campaigns, and building coalitions that have delivered meaningful wins for families and students.
“Families deserve a public education system shaped with them, not for them,” said Arenas. “When we listen deeply and act collectively, we build the kind of educational future families have been calling for all along.”
“For over 45 years, we have worked alongside children, youth, and families who know that a strong, equitable public education system is the foundation of opportunity,” said Drew Furedi, President and CEO of Para Los Niños. “By joining forces with Families In Schools and EdTrust–West, we will create a statewide effort that not only defends the right to public education but elevates the experiences and aspirations of students and families through deep regional listening and engagement. We’re excited to help lead this long-term, complex, and necessary work.”
“California must lead with lasting systems change that improves outcomes for historically underserved students, especially in these fiscally and politically uncertain times,” said Dr. Christopher J. Nellum, Executive Director of EdTrust–West. “This coalition will translate family-identified priorities into actionable policy solutions and ensure that California stands firmly with the students and families who are counting on us.”
About the Partners
For 25 years, Families In Schools has stood with parents, educators, and communities to ignite change — grounded in the belief that when families lead, education transforms. As a non-profit, FIS serves low-income, immigrant, and communities of color, knowing that education remains the single most important opportunity for them. The mission of Families In Schools is to ensure student success by building authentic partnerships between families, educators, and system leaders, and through parent-led advocacy.
Para Los Niños (PLN) is an L.A.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to partnering with children, youth, and their families through integrated education, wellness, support, and advocacy to address individual and systemic barriers and create pathways to success. Since 1980, PLN has fostered community trust by showing up consistently, centering family voice in decision-making, and acting as a bridge between families and complex public systems—experience directly relevant to this trust-building initiative. PLN brings trusted relationships with families, educators, and social service providers, as well as on-the-ground experience addressing the intersecting challenges—health, housing, immigration, and economic instability—that shape children’s educational experiences and wellbeing.
EdTrust-West is an evidence-driven advocacy organization committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in California’s education system. For 25 years, EdTrust-West has worked to improve racial equity in education by engaging diverse communities and increasing political and public will to build an education system where students of color and multilingual learners will thrive.