The Community Education Councils were created in 2004 after the school boards were dismantled.
Throughout the city, there are 32 school districts.  Each school district has a CEC.  Each CEC oversees the elementary and junior high schools within their district. Parents serve a two year term on 36 Councils throughout the city, including the 32 Community Education Councils and the 4 Citywide Councils.

CECs are made up of:

9 parents-selected by the district's PTA/PAs

2 Borough President Appointees

1 High School Senior


CEC members represent the parents in their district. The CEC is the voice of all the district parents. Parents are encouraged to attend the monthly meetings to learn what is going on and also to voice their concerns and issues.  Members also visit the district schools and attend their PTA/PA meetings, as well as their School Leadership Team meetings.  
The CECs participate in shaping educational policies in their districts. Their responsibilities include approving school zoning lines, holding hearings on the capital plan, and providing input on other important policy issues. Each CEC has nine members who are parents of students currently in grades K-8 in district schools.


For District 20, the parent CEC members have children in the district's public school system.  On CEC20, our members' children attend: PS102, PS/IS 104,  PS105, PS176. PS185, IS187, PS200, PS205, PS/IS229,  IS201, IS259, and PS686.

Citywide Councils:
There are 4 citywide councils: the CCHS (Citywide Council on High Schools) oversees all the high schools, the CCSE (Citywide Council on Special Education) oversees Special Education., the CCELL (Citywide Council on English Language Learners) and the District 75 Council.

Citywide Council on High Schools (CCHS)
The CCHS advises and comments on educational or instructional policy involving students attending public high schools. There are ten elected members on the Citywide Council on High Schools, two from each borough. Each member must be the parent of a student currently attending public high school.

Citywide Council on English Language Learners (CCELL)
The CCELL advises and comments on policy involving bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. There are nine elected members on the Citywide Council on English Language Learners. Each member must be the parent of a student currently receiving bilingual or ESL services.

Citywide Council on Special Education (CCSE)
The CCSE advises and comments on services for students with disabilities. There are nine elected members on the Citywide Council on Special Education. Each member must be the parent of a student currently receiving special education services.

District 75 Citywide Council (D75 Council)
The Council advises and comments on educational policies that affect students with disabilities who attend D75 schools. There are nine elected members on the D75 Council. Each member must be the parent of a student currently enrolled in a D75 program.

2013 Selection Schedule:

February 13, 2013 through March 13, 2013 - Parents interested in running for a seat on a Council nominate themselves by completing an application online and by mail.

April 8, 2013 through April 25, 2013 - District and borough parent leaders, along with the Department of Education, will host forums for parents to meet and ask questions of Council candidates.

May 1, 2013 through May 14, 2013 – Presidents, Treasurers, and Recording Secretaries of Parent Associations and Parent-Teacher Associations will select all of the new Community and Citywide Education Council Members for the 2013-2015 term.

Community and citywide Education Council Members for 2013-2015 will be announced and the selection results will be published online.

1/4/13
Today, the NYC Department of Education is launching the 2013 Education Council Selection Process (see press release attached and below). Serving on an Education Council is among the most influential roles that parents play in our City’s school system, and the chance to run for an Education Council seat only comes around once every two years. Please encourage parents in your community to apply for a spot on a District or Citywide Education Council, and help us spread the word about this important opportunity.

Community Education Councils advocate for the needs of the students in grades K-8 in each of our 32 community school districts. Parents are also selected to serve on Citywide Education Councils, which advocate for the needs of high school students, students receiving special education services, students receiving ELL services, and students attending District 75 schools.

For the launch of the 2013 Education Council Selection Process, we have created NYCParentLeaders.org. The information on this site is available in multiple languages and can answer a wide array of questions, including explanations of the roles and responsibilities of Education Councils, answers to frequently asked questions, an outline of the Selection Process timeline, and an online application.

The NYCDOE website also contains a resource page that includes useful materials to  download and share including posters, palm cards, and brochures about the 2013 Selection Process. We encourage you to share these materials with your community and help distribute this valuable information.

Thank you for empowering our parents to strengthen New York City’s school communities. Please don’t hesitate to direct parents with questions about the 2013 Selection Process to the Division of Family and Community Engagement via email at FACE@schools.nyc.gov or by phone at (212) 374-4118.

Sincerely,

Division of Family and Community Engagement