Authentic community engagement is an integral part of creating, starting and sustaining a high-quality charter school. In this session, we will walk participants through effective community engagement processes and practices from the point of concept through opening. Such processes and practices include: creating digital and print communications; identifying the right groups and individuals to engage throughout the process; using surveys and focus groups to gain meaningful input on the school design; documenting the engagement process and input from stakeholders; facilitating effective public meetings; shifting from securing application support to recruiting students; turning application allies into community partners during the planning year; bringing parents and board members onto the board; building sustainable systems for community involvement. We will provide links to planning tools, templates and exemplars to support groups in their own community engagement efforts.