Citywide Education Councils are education policy advisory bodies that represent the interests of:
- High school students (Citywide Council on High Schools),
- English Language Learners (Citywide Council on English Language Learners), and
- Students with disabilities (Citywide Council on Special Education and the Citywide Council for District 75).
The Citywide Education Councils 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).
Citywide Council on High Schools (CCHS)
What is the Citywide Council on High Schools (CCHS)?
The CCHS is an advisory body concerned with the education of high school students. The CCHS is responsible for issuing an annual report on how effectively high school students are being served by the NYC Department of Education and making recommendations for improvements. The CCHS must hold at least one public meeting per month during which the public may discuss issues concerning high schools.
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.
Who is eligible to run for a seat on CCHS?
You are eligible to run if you are the parent of a student currently attending a public, non-charter high school.
For the purpose of determining CCHS eligibility, “parent” is defined in Chancellor’s Regulation D-160 as:
- A parent (by birth or adoption, step parent, 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.
What if I don't meet these eligibility criteria?
If you do not meet the above criteria, you may still be eligible to serve as the Public Advocate appointee on the CCHS. Qualifications include extensive business or education experience and knowledge; additional requirements are listed in Chancellor’s Regulation D-160.
Find the Public Advocate Appointee application here
When is eligibility determined?
Eligibility is determined as of the date an application to run for a seat on the CCHS is submitted. Once elected, parent members are allowed to serve a full two-year term on the CCHS even if they no longer have a child in a public high school.
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)
What is the Citywide Council on Special Education (CCSE)
The CCSE is an advisory body concerned with the education of students with disabilities. The CCSE is responsible for advising and commenting on the establishment of committees/subcommittees on special education in community school districts; and for issuing an annual report on how effectively students with disabilities are served by the NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE) and making recommendations for improvements. The CCSE must hold at least one public meeting per month during which the public may discuss issues facing students with disabilities.
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.
- 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.
Who is eligible to run for a seat on CCSE?
You are eligible to run if you are 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.
For the purpose of determining CCSE eligibility, “parent” is defined in Chancellor’s Regulation D-150 as:
- A parent (by birth or adoption, step parent, 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 a child on a regular basis in lieu of a parent or legal guardian.
Of the 9 seats filled in the election, 2 are reserved for parents of students enrolled in a District 75 program.
What if I don't meet these eligibility criteria?
If you do not meet the above criteria, you may still be eligible to serve as one of the two Public Advocate appointees on the CCSE. Qualifications include extensive experience and knowledge in educating or employing persons with disabilities; additional requirements are listed in Chancellor’s Regulation D-150.
Find the Public Advocate Appointee application here
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 student’s special education services are paid for by the NYC Department of Education.
When is eligibility determined?
Eligibility is determined as of the date an application to run for a seat on the CCSE is submitted. Elected parent members of CCSE may serve only as long as they have a child with an IEP; they must resign if their qualifying child leaves school or no longer receives special education services.
Citywide Council on English Language Learners (CCELL)
What is the Citywide Council on English Language Learners (CCELL)?
The CCELL is an advisory body concerned with the education of English Language Learners in bilingual or English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. The CCELL is responsible for issuing an annual report on how effectively those students are being served by the NYC Department of Education and making recommendations for improvements. The CCELL must hold at least one public meeting per month during which the public may discuss issues facing English Language Learners.
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 an a Dual Language (DL), Transitional Bilingual (TB), or English as a New Language (ENL) program.
Who is eligible to run for a seat on CCELL?
You are eligible to run if you are the parent of an student who is currently in a Dual Language (DL), Transitional Bilingual (TB), or English as a New Language (ENL) program, or was enrolled in such a program within the previous two years.
For the purpose of determining CCELL eligibility, “parent” is defined in Chancellor’s Regulation D-170 as:
- A parent (by birth or adoption, step-parent, 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.
What if I don't meet these eligibility criteria?
If you do not meet the above criteria, you may still be eligible to serve as one of the two Public Advocate appointees on the CCELL. Qualifications include extensive experience and knowledge in the education of English Language Learners; additional requirements are listed in Chancellor’s Regulation D-170.
Find the Public Advocate Appointee application here
When is eligibility determined?
Eligibility is determined as of the date an application to run for a seat on the CCELL is submitted. Elected parent members of CCELL may serve only as long as they have a child who is an English Language Learner, or was an English language Learner within the preceding two years; they must resign if they no longer have a qualifying child.
Citywide Council for District 75 (CCD75)
What is the Citywide Council for District 75 (CCD75)?
The CCD75 is an advisory body concerned with the education of students receiving special education services in a District 75 school or program. The CCD75 is responsible for issuing an annual report on the effectiveness of the NYC Department of Education in providing services to District 75 students and making recommendations for improvements. The CCD75 must hold at least one public meeting per month during which the public may discuss issues facing District 75 students.
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 is a non-voting District 75 high school senior appointed by the District 75 Superintendent.
Who is eligible to run for a seat on CCD75?
You are eligible to run if you are the parent of a student who currently receives citywide special education services in District 75.
For the purpose of determining CCD75 eligibility, “parent” is defined in Chancellor’s Regulation D-150 as:
- A parent (by birth or adoption, step parent, 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 a child on a regular basis in lieu of a parent or legal guardian.
What if I don't meet these eligibility criteria?
If you do not meet the above criteria, you may still be eligible to serve as one of the two Public Advocate appointees on the CCD75. Qualifications include extensive experience and knowledge in educating or employing persons with disabilities; additional requirements are listed in Chancellor’s Regulation D-150.
Find the Public Advocate Appointee application here
When is eligibility determined?
Eligibility is determined as of the date an application to run for a seat on the CCD75 is submitted. Elected members of CCD75 may serve only as long as they have a child in a District 75 program; they must resign if their child graduates during their term.