Parents, residents and local businesses can now apply to be voting movers and shakers for their Community Education Council and Citywide Education Council. Applications are still open – but not for much longer – for four positions on both councils: Native Member (Elected), Borough President Appointed, Public Advocate Appointed, and Student Member (Not Voting). Last date to apply is Monday, February 13 at 11:59 PM
New York City has four citywide education boards and 32 community education boards, one for each community school district. There are four councils throughout the city: High School, Special Education, English Language Learners, and District 75. Both councils make important decisions regarding education and represent New York City Department of Education schools from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
Who Can Serve on Community Education Councils?
Assuming you have been accepted onto the Community Education Council, you will hold at least one meeting a month and serve along with 10 other voting members. At the public meeting, you will be expected to listen to any concerns parents and the community may have. Nine of those members are parents of children in pre-kindergarten to 8th grade. They are selected by district schools or parents of children participating in a pre-kindergarten program at the district school. Two of those members are residents and/or local business leaders appointed by the Borough President. There is also one, non-voting high school senior living in the district.
One of the nine seats on the CEC is reserved for a parent of a child receiving special education services or at any time receiving such services. Another position is reserved for the parent of an English language learner who is currently in a dual language, transitional bilingual education, or English as a New Language program or was enrolled in such a program at any time.
To apply, you must be the parent of a student who currently attends pre-kindergarten through 8th grade at a school in the community school district where you are applying to serve the CEC.
Who Can Serve on Citywide Boards of Education?
Citywide council members are responsible for holding at least one public meeting each month and sharing public concerns with the community you serve. Council members are expected to advise and comment on educational policies in their student communities, and issue an annual report on the effectiveness of the New York City Department of Education in providing services to the student communities they represent.
If you are accepted into the citywide education councils on high schools, you will serve with 12 other members. You must be the parent of a student currently attending a public, non-charter high school.
If you are accepted into the Citywide Education Councils on Special Education, you will work with 10 other members. You must be the parent of a student with an IEP who currently receives special education services provided and/or paid for by the NYC Department of Education, regardless of whether your child attends a public, charter, or private school.
If you are accepted into the Citywide Education Councils on English Language Learners, you will work with 10 other members. You must be the parent of an English language learner who is currently in a bilingual or ESL program, or was enrolled in such a program within the past two years.
If you are accepted into the Citywide Board of Education on District 75, you will serve with 10 other members. If you are the parent of a student who currently receives Citywide Special Education Services in District 75, you are eligible to run.
Below are the duties of Community Education Councils:
- Review district educational programs and assess their impact on student achievement.
- Hold at least one meeting per month with the superintendent (72-hour notice required), open to the public, where the public can discuss the current status of the district’s schools.
- Submit the annual evaluation of the Superintendent to the Chancellor.
- Provide input to the Chancellor and panel for educational policy on concerns of the district.
- Act as a liaison for school leadership teams
- Approve zoning lines submitted by the superintendent.
- Hold a public hearing regarding the needs of the capital of the district and submit the plan to the Chancellor.
- Place the Town Hall with the Chancellor.
- Attend at least two DOE-sponsored training sessions per session to review your roles and responsibilities
Board of Education members must also fill out monthly personal performance reports and file annual financial disclosures. Although this is an unpaid volunteer position, members may receive limited reimbursement for expenses.
The duties of citywide councils are given below:
- hold at least one meeting per month (72-hour notice required) that is open to the public, during which the public can discuss issues affecting the council’s respective constituencies: high schools, special education services Achieving students, and English language learners.
- Comment on the educational and instructional policy.
- Issue an annual report on the services provided by the DOEs to their respective constituencies and make recommendations for improvement.
Here’s how to apply for CEC:
Guardian member application can be found Here,
Borough President appointment applications can be found Here,
Public advocate appointment application can be obtained from Here,
Student Member (non-voting) application can be found Here,
The New York City Department of Education website has virtual Zoom information sessions, including those online for District 75. The last date for the last information session is February 13. Pre-recorded sessions are available in several languages: Arabic, English, French, Haitian Creole, mandarin, Polish, Russian, SpanishAnd Urdu,
You will need a NYC school account to apply this year. If you do not already have one, you will need to register for one NYC School Account All your children studying in DOE schools are registered in it.
Send all the filled application form [email protected], For questions about vacancies, please email [email protected] or call 212-374-1936.
