When principals and LSCs work together, students succeed.
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Local School Councils (LSCs) are an important asset for Chicago’s public schools because they embody local decision-making and community involvement in education. These elected councils include the school principal as well as parents, community members, teachers and other school staff, and students. They have important responsibilities that directly affect principal quality and student outcomes.
A supportive relationship between an LSC and its school leader can accelerate school improvement, creating a shared decision-making space that uses community expertise to meet student needs. That’s why we work with LSCs, Chicago Public Schools, and other nonprofits to create resources for the thousands of LSC members who serve across the city.
Below, you can find information about our LSC Mentorship program and resources, including a principal hiring toolkit and LSC elections toolkit. You can also access data and insights from our 2025 LSC Engagement Survey. The 2023 survey was the first of its kind, and you can find insights stories of successful principals and LSCs in our 2024 baseline report.
LSC Mentorship Program
The LSC Mentorship Program, delivered in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools Department of Principal Quality and The Luminary Collective, provides structured, yearlong support to early-career principals as they strengthen their collaboration with LSCs. The program pairs participating principals with experienced mentors who offer guidance grounded in real school contexts and tailored to each leader’s needs. This program aims to improve principals’ ability to engage LSC members, build trust, and lead collaborative decision-making that strengthens school communities.
What You’ll Do
- Meet monthly with a principal mentor.
- Set personalized goals around LSC leadership, entry planning, or community engagement.
- Access curated tools, sample agendas, and templates.
What You’ll Get
Personalized support grounded in real school experience, a peer network of other mentees aiming to improve how they work with their LSC, and optional workshops to support your learning.
Who Should Apply
- Mentees: Principals seeking support with LSC collaboration, structure, or relationship-building.
- Mentors: Experienced principals with strong LSC practices ready to support peers.
Timeline
Check back in summer 2026 for more information!
Resources
Curious about the work LSCs do? Learn more about the important responsibilities of the city’s LSCs.
Hiring Toolkit
Are you hiring a principal? Find videos, guides and other resources created by LCS members to help you in your search.
LSC Elections Toolkit
This toolkit provides ready‑made resources to help spread the word, encourage nominations, and highlight the importance of serving in the 2026 LSC elections.
LSC Engagement Survey
We surveyed 608 LSC members across 325 schools to gain insight into their experiences. See what we learned here.Â