The 2023 CCEC Elections are over.
Thank you to all the parents who participated, either by applying to run or voting for candidates, the important thing is you all participated.
Vote tabulation begins on May 11. Winners will be notified by the third week of June and will be required to attend a three-day orientation in-person from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on June 24, and virtually in the evenings of June 26 and June 27 before they begin their term. For more information about how the voting is tabulated and vetted, review the Chancellor’s Regulations here.
Even though the election is over those who did not win or any parents who qualify, have two ways in which they might still be able to serve on a council. One way is to check the “Available Council Seats” page for any vacancies on the councils. Another is to reach out to your Borough President about serving as a BP Appointed member of a council. The BP Appointee application can be found here.
Community Education Councils (CECs) are education policy advisory bodies responsible for, among other things, reviewing and evaluating their district’s educational programs, approving zoning lines, and holding public hearings on certain matters. See the Roles and Responsibilities page for a fuller description of what members do.
Each Community Education Council (CEC) consists of 11 voting members who provide hands-on leadership and support for their district's public schools:
- 9 are parents of children in pre-K through 8th grade, attending a district school or a pre-K program offered by a district school; these members are elected by parents of children attending these schools and programs.
- 2 are residents and/or local business leaders appointed by the Borough President; and
- In addition, each CEC includes a non-voting high school senior who lives in the district and is appointed by the Community Superintendent.
- CECs must hold at least one public meeting per month, with the Community Superintendent, where the parents and the community may air their concerns.
CECs are established under, and their powers and duties are defined by, New York State Education Law. Their members are public officials who serve their communities as unpaid volunteers. Learn more about the CECs’ roles and responsibilities and see a list of current members and meeting dates
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CECs are there?
There are 32 CECs in New York City, one for each Community School District. Each CEC represents current Pre-K through 8th-grade students in DOE schools within its district.
Who is eligible to run for a seat on a CEC?
You are eligible to run if you are a parent of a student who currently attends Pre-K through 8th grade in a school under the jurisdiction of the community school district where you wish to serve on the CEC.
For the purpose of determining CEC eligibility, “parent” is defined in Chancellor’s Regulation D-140 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.
Of the 9 CEC seats filled in the election, 1 is reserved for the parent of a child who is receiving special education services or received such services at any time (“IEP Parent”), and 1 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 (ENL) program or was enrolled in such a program at any time (“ELL Parent”).
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 Borough President appointees on each CEC. Qualifications include being a district resident or business owner with extensive business or education knowledge and experience; additional requirements are listed in Chancellor’s Regulation D-140.
Please note that the appointee process is separate from the elections. Applications for Borough President Appointee positions, including instructions and timeline for submission, will be posted soon.
When is eligibility determined?
Eligibility is determined as of the date that an application to run for a seat on a CEC is submitted. Once elected, parent members are allowed to serve a full two-year term on the CEC even if they no longer have a child in a school under the jurisdiction of the Community School District
How and when can I apply to serve on CEC?
This year, in order to submit an application, you will need a NYC Schools Account with all your children attending DOE schools registered to it.
If you do not have a NYC Schools Account, or need assistance registering your children to your existing account, please contact your Parent Coordinator or Family Leadership Coordinator (FLC).
Your Parent Coordinator or FLC can also help you access a computer at a school or district office if you do not have internet access at home.
You can apply beginning January 9, 2023. The application period closes at 11:59 pm on February 13, 2023.