The MEC model for community engagement establishes a close collaboration between external (MEC) change agents and internal (district) leaders during the five-year project.  This collaboration is vital to the successful implementation of innovative efforts and builds local leadership and capacity for sustainability.

Regular meetings enable MEC and local leaders to reflect on implementation as it unfolds, examine and adjust plans to impact and improve local classroom practice, develop mathematically powerful teachers and students, and build community advocacy.  From the beginning, local and MEC leaders develop and utilize the capacity of current and emerging leaders throughout the system to improve mathematics teaching and learning. Over time, local leaders and administrators plan for and assume responsibilities to sustain continuous mathematics improvement initiated during the partnership with MEC, including active involvement with parents and community partners.