We are thrilled to share details regarding the upcoming 2025 Community and Citywide Education Council Elections. Your involvement is vital; this is your chance to help shape the future of your school community.
Parents will be able to apply for seats in January 2025, starting in late February through April, candidates will campaign; voting will take place from late April through May 13.
Stay tuned for further updates as these dates approach. In the meantime, ensure you are signed up for a New York City School Account (NYCSA) which is necessary to run for a seat and vote. Click here for instructions on how to create a NYCSA.
Find below, answers to common questions regarding running for a seat.
I want to run for an Education Council. What do I need to do?
In order to run for a seat on any Education Council, you need to first sign up for a NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) and link all your children attending DOE schools to it. The account must be in your name.
How do I create a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA)?
If you do not have a NYCSA, visit NYC Schools Account. If you need assistance, contact your school's parent coordinator for help with setting up an account and linking your children to it. It may take a few days to create a full NYCSA, so be sure to begin the process well before the end of the application period.
Who is eligible to run for a seat on an Education Council?
Only parents may run for a seat on an education council.
For the purpose of determining eligibility, chancellor’s regulations define “parent” as: “A parent (by birth or adoption, stepparent, or foster parent), legal guardian, or person in parental relation to a child. A person in parental relation to a child is a person who is directly responsible for the care and custody of the child on a regular basis in lieu of a parent or legal guardian.”
Additional eligibility requirements vary by council.
If you are applying to a Community Education Council (CEC), you must have a child who is currently attending Kindergarten through 8th grade in a school or a pre-K program offered by a school under the jurisdiction of the community school district where you wish to serve on the CEC. You also qualify to run for a seat on that CEC if you have a child attending a D75 program physically located in the CEC’s geographic district. This is a reserved seat, for which only D75 parents can run or vote.
If you are applying to the Citywide Council on High Schools (CCHS), you must have a child currently attending a public, non-charter high school. CCHS has ten elected seats, two for each borough. There is a separate election for each borough; where your child’s high school is located will determine which ballot you qualify for.
If you are applying to the Citywide Council for District 75 (CCD75), you must have a child enrolled in a D75 school or program anywhere in New York City. That child will also qualify you to run for the CEC where your child’s program is physically located.
If you are applying to the Citywide Council on Special Education (CCSE), you must have a child with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The child may be in a DOE, charter or private school.
If you are applying to the Citywide Council on English Language Learners (CCELL), you must have a child classified as an English Language Learner (ELL) who is currently enrolled in a Dual Language, Transitional Bilingual Education, or English as a New Language (ENL) program, or who was enrolled in such a program within the previous two years.
Do I qualify for any council if I have a child in a non-public school?
If your child is in a non-public school and has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) you are eligible to run for a seat on the Citywide Council on Special Education (CCSE) as long as the special education services are provided by or paid for by the Department of Education (DOE). If you are unable to establish a NYCSA account, please contact Elections2025@schools.nyc.gov.
My child is in a charter school, what do I qualify for?
As a charter school parent, you qualify for CCSE if your child has an IEP with services provided by or paid for by the DOE. You do not qualify for CEC, CCHS, CCELL or CCD75.
When is eligibility determined?
Eligibility is determined as of the date you submit an application to run for a seat on an Education Council. If you are elected to a CEC (including the D75 seat) or CCHS, you will be allowed to complete a full two-year term even if you no longer have a qualifying child. However, if you are elected to CCSE, CCELL or CCD75, you will be required to resign your seat if your child no longer has an IEP, ceases to be an ELL or to attend a D75 school or program
Can I run for more than one Council?
You can run for multiple councils, but you can only serve on one. The council(s) you are eligible for are based on the children linked to your NYCSA and will be automatically displayed when you apply. For example, if you have three children—an ELL enrolled in a D75 program in District 2, a first grader with an IEP in a District 1 school, and a 10th grader in a Queens high school—you will see these options: CCD75, CCSE, CCELL, D75 seat on CEC 2, CEC 1, and CCHS-Queens. You will be required to choose which councils you wish to run for and rank them in order of preference. If you are elected to more than one council, you will be assigned to serve on the one you ranked highest.
What if I don't meet the eligibility criteria for an elected seat?
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for a council you are interested in serving on, you may still be able to serve as an appointee. Appointees do not need to be parents but must meet other qualifications. For more information and applications click here.
Who is not eligible to apply or serve on an Education Council?
All parents of qualifying children are eligible to run for an Education Council seat, but some are ineligible to serve under state law. These include all current DOE employees, most elected public officials, and members of the Panel for Educational Policy; if you fall in one of these categories you may run but will be asked to choose between continuing in your position and serving on a council should you be elected. Under certain circumstances, other parents may be barred from serving as well. Please see Chancellor’s Regulation D-140-170 for further details.
How long does it take to complete the application form?
Apart from the personal statement, all sections of the application can be completed in 5-10 minutes. Although the personal statement is not obligatory, you are strongly advised to submit one. Once you have submitted your application, familiarize yourself with the campaigning guideline and make sure to attend the relevant candidate forum(s).