The Citywide Education Councils are comprised of volunteer parents and community leaders, who are responsible for advising and commenting on educational policies that involve the student communities they represent; issuing an annual report on the effectiveness of the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) in providing services to the represented student communities; and holding at least one public meeting per month during which the public may discuss issues facing high schools (CCHS), English Language Learners (CCELL), and students with disabilities (CCSE and CCD75).
The Citywide Education Councils composition and eligibility criteria are detailed below. If you don’t meet these criteria, you may still qualify as a Public Advocate appointee. CCSE, CCD75, and CCELL each have two Public Advocate appointees, while CCHS has one. Appointees do not need to be parents but must be New York City residents with extensive business or educational experience and relevant knowledge. Additional requirements may vary and are outlined in Chancellor’s Regulation D-150(CCSE & CCD75), D-160(CCHS), D-170(CCELL).
Find the Public Advocate Appointee Application here
Citywide Council on High Schools (CCHS)
The CCHS has 13 members:
- 10 (2 from each borough) are elected by parents of every high school in the relevant borough, and must be parents of students who currently attend a public, non-charter high school in the borough the parent seeks to represent.
- 1 is appointed by the Public Advocate and must be a resident of New York City with extensive business or education experience.
- 1 is appointed by the Citywide Council on Special Education (CCSE) and must be the parent of a high school student with an IEP.
- 1 is appointed by the Citywide Council on English Language Learners (CCELL) and must be the parent of a high school student who is in a Dual Language (DL), Transitional Bilingual (TB), or English as a New Language (ENL) program.
- In addition, the CCHS includes a non-voting high school senior who is an elected leader at his or her school and is appointed by the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council.
Which borough would I be eligible to represent on the CCHS?
You are eligible to represent the borough where your child's high school is located. Your name will appear on the ballot for that borough only.
What if I have current high school students in multiple boroughs?
On your application you must list all your children attending public, non-charter high schools. If your children attend high schools in different boroughs, you will choose which borough(s) you would like to represent on CCHS. Then, you must rank those in order of preference on your application.
Citywide Council on Special Education (CCSE)
The CCSE has 11 members:
- 9 are parents of students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) who currently receive special education services provided in an NYCDOE public school or provided in a charter or private school but paid for by the NYCDOE. These members are elected by parents of students with an IEP in public, non-charter schools.
- Of these 9, 2 must be parents of students in a D75 school or program.
- 2 are appointed by the Public Advocate and must be individuals with extensive experience and knowledge in educating, training, or employing individuals with disabilities.
- In addition, the CCSE includes a non-voting high school senior with an IEP, appointed by the Office of Special Education.
Can the parent of a District 75 student serve on the CCSE?
Yes. In fact, at least 2 of the 9 parent members must be parents of students enrolled in a District 75 program.
Can the parent of a private or charter school student serve on the CCSE?
Yes, as long as the students’ special education services are paid for by the NYC Department of Education.
Citywide Council on English Language Learners (CCELL)
The CCELL has 11 members:
- 9 are parents of English Language Learner students currently in a Dual Language (DL), Transitional Bilingual (TB), or English as a New Language (ENL) program, or who were enrolled in such a program within the previous two years; These members are elected by parents of students who are current English Language Learners.
- 2 are appointed by the Public Advocate and must be individuals with extensive experience and knowledge in the education of English Language Learners.
- In addition, the CCELL includes a non-voting high school senior, appointed by the Division of Multilingual Learners, who is or has been in a Dual Language (DL), Transitional Bilingual (TB), or English as a New Language (ENL) program.
Citywide Council for District 75 (CCD75)
The CCD75 has 11 members:
- 9 are parents of children in a District 75 school or program; elected by parents of students attending District 75 schools or programs; and
- 2 are appointed by the Public Advocate and must be individuals with extensive experience and knowledge in educating, training, or employing individuals with disabilities.
- In addition, the CCD75 includes a non-voting District 75 high school senior appointed by the District 75 Superintendent.