The New York-based firm says that Chicago Public Schools has begun using the Zencity platform, according to a statement.
The system operates more than 600 schools, enrolled more than 325,000 last year and is highly diverse, with students of many ethnicities filling classrooms.
CPS used the Zencity platform to gather what the statement calls “multilingual community feedback during its recent CEO search.”
As in so many cities and school districts, a search for a new leader can be lengthy, complex and extremely political, and involve hundreds or thousands of people offering their opinions.
In this case, the Zencity platform helped officials gather comments in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Polish and English.
Some of the feedback included asking which priorities the new CEO should focus on, with residents calling for high-quality instruction, stronger academic outcomes, career preparation efforts and equity.
CPS said that more than 1,400 parents, students, teachers, administrators and others took part in the community engagement effort — showing the opportunity government technology has to help bring digital efficiencies to a vital process.
CPS eventually appointed an interim CEO.
“Critical decisions are too often influenced only by those with the time, access or privilege to make their voices heard,” said Eyal Feder-Levy, CEO and co-founder of Zencity, in the statement. “That’s especially important in education, where every decision impacts every student, their family and their future.”
Besides Chicago, at least one school district in Florida has turned to Zencity for community engagement, according to the statement. Questions posed through the platform can cover a variety of issues, from the preferred start of school to views about school choice.
