This year's submission of consolidated state plans for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) revealed two things: New ideas made it to the table, and many people--including those who had not before engaged in education policy conversations--contributed to the process. What is still hazy as the dust settles is whether this once-in-a-decade opportunity for states and districts to engage stakeholders will help move the needle toward equity and toward giving every child an excellent education. The challenge for state boards of education now is to help districts leverage this required engagement into meaningful local conversations that can ensure that every child has equitable access to a great school. This article offers 5 guiding principles and examples of the principles in action from the work of Partners for Each and Every Child in Illinois to guide state policymakers' ongoing efforts to strengthen their own stake holder engagement and to encourage districts to mirror these practices at the local level.