Center on Communities and Education

Center on Communities and Education (CCE)


The Center on Communities and Education (CCE) at the Annette Caldwell School of Education and Human Development focuses on:

  • closing the education gap in urban, low-income communities by coordinating social services, using data to support academic success, and providing professional development in schools; and
  • engaging SMU faculty and students in transformative leadership and learning experiences in partner communities.

As a backbone organization, CCE builds and manages the framework through which social service agencies and K-12 schools collaborate to improve school performance, raise graduation rates and increase the college readiness of high school graduates. 

Our current initiative, The School Zone in West Dallas is a singular, coordinated, systemic effort among 20+ not-for-profit agencies, 15 schools, Dallas Independent School District and businesses to create a healthy educational ecosystem where students graduate from high school ready for college and career, and school transformation drives long-lasting community improvement.



ABOUT WEST DALLAS
a community of promise

THE SCHOOL ZONE
a collective impact initiative

OUR PARTNERS
a catalyst for change