Our Story
Israel has one of the starkest achievement gaps between children from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
We’re here to bridge the gaps.
Founded in 2009, the Israel Center for Educational Innovation (ICEI) is the leader in turning around underperforming elementary schools serving low-income communities in Israel.
Originally established to ignite academic achievement among Ethiopian-Israeli students, ICEI now operates within Jewish and Arab elementary schools across Israel.
We currently run programs in 53 schools nationwide, almost half of them in Arab communities, reaching more than 15,000 students.
Our Vision
Our vision is for every child to have access to quality education that empowers them to develop strong literacy and learning skills, setting them up for higher academic success and a better future.
Our Mission
Our mission is to ensure that all children in Israel’s social periphery can access the quality education they deserve. We partner with the Ministry of Education and local authorities in long-term interventions that transform Jewish and Arab elementary schools. Through on-site professional retraining and data-driven teaching methods, ICEI strengthens school leadership and enhances the instruction of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. We also empower parents to become active partners in their children’s education. Our comprehensive programs equalize access to quality education, bridge academic achievement gaps, and pave the way for greater social mobility within Israeli society.
Our Values
IInnovation
We are constantly learning, innovating, and sharing best practices in school leadership and literacy education. We are committed to introducing cutting-edge, research-based teaching methods, resources, and technology into the schools in our network, including our pioneering data-collection system that supports data-driven instruction and propels student achievement.
CCollaboration
Collaboration is woven into every aspect of our work. We are dedicated to forging authentic and respectful partnerships with principals, teachers, communities, government bodies, municipalities, and our peer organizations. Principals and teachers thrive when they receive ongoing support and encouragement, and children thrive when their achievements are celebrated.
EExcellence
We strive to support our partner schools to achieve excellence, and we demand the same from ourselves. We invest heavily in the ongoing professional development of our team and continuously monitor and evaluate our progress to ensure the best data-driven results.
IInclusivity
We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organization that serves Jewish and Arab elementary schools across Israel. We are committed to advancing a deeper understanding of the multiple cultures that make up Israeli society and promoting equity in education.
Recognition of ICEI’s Achievements
We enjoy productive partnerships with a range of governmental bodies, including local municipalities and the Ministry of Education.
In an unprecedented initiative, Israel’s Ministry of Education is partnering with ICEI on a 37-million shekel ($11 million) 5-year Joint Venture to bring our Tamkin program to 15 additional underperforming low-income Arab elementary schools in dire need of a dramatic intervention. This Joint Venture is being implemented with the support and leadership of the Ministry of Education’s Department of Elementary Education, Department of Arab Education, and Department of Planning and Strategy.
ICEI is now operating in 25% of the most challenged Arab elementary schools in the country, with the potential to have significant system-wide impact.
We’re also proud to have been selected as one of a very small number of non-profit operators in major governmental initiatives such as Meisharim, the Turnaround Schools Strategy of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance and Yad Hanadiv, and Almaz, an initiative of the Ministry of Education’s Department of Elementary Education to advance academic achievements among Ethiopian-Israeli students in elementary schools.