A Comprehensive Guide to Community Education Councils

Community and Citywide Education Councils (CECs) offer parents a significant voice in shaping New York City's public schools. From influencing education policy to reviewing school zoning changes, CECs play a vital role in ensuring schools address the needs of their communities. This guide provides a detailed overview of CECs, their functions, and how you can become involved.

What are Community Education Councils?

Community and Citywide Education Councils are elected bodies that give parents a real say in how New York City’s public schools are run. They influence education policy, hold town halls, review school zoning changes, and more.

Each of the 32 school districts in New York City has its own CEC and community superintendent, representing pre-K through 8th-grade students for that district.

Why CECs Matter

CECs are about more than just policy. They are about people. This election will decide who represents you and your values in decisions that directly affect our schools - from special education and language access to school safety and inclusion. Local elections like these are where change begins - where communities plant the seeds of resilience, hope, equity, and justice that grow outward, from our schools to our city and beyond.

The Role of CECs

CECs are advisory bodies with up-or-down voting powers on only one issue: changes to school district zoning. But that barely scratches the surface of what CECs actually end up doing.

Read also: About Grossmont Community College

Influencing Education Policy

CECs influence education policy, hold town halls, and more.

Reviewing School Zoning Changes

CECs have up-or-down voting powers on changes to school district zoning.

Collaborating with Superintendents and the DOE

Collaborating with and establishing a good working relationship with the superintendent and the DOE at large is a key part of making councils successful.

Addressing Community Concerns

Being on the CEC also means tapping into the community’s concerns on the ground level - kind of like community organizing.

For instance, during the pandemic, one council organized food drives and packed boxed meals to distribute at schools to families facing food insecurity.

Ensuring a Healthy, Safe, and Stimulating Environment

It has to be a day that is healthy, safe and emotionally and academically stimulating.

How to Get Involved

The Community and Citywide Education Council (CEC) elections are happening right now - and they’re about more than just filling seats.

Voting in CEC Elections

Step 1: Log into or set up your NYC Schools Account: You need a NYCSA to vote.
Once you’re logged in to your NYC Schools Account, your personalized ballot will be waiting for you.
Review the candidates running in your district - many of them are parents and advocates who’ve been doing the work for years - then cast your vote and submit.

Just like that, you’ve helped shape the future of your local public schools! So vote and bring others in your school communities along with you.

Following the forum, parents vote for their favorite candidates through their NYCSAs.

Applying to Serve on a CEC

Applications to fill vacant positions are open until February 23. The current councils’ term started in June 2021 and will wrap up by June this year. Applications for the next cohort are open until February 23 to fill vacant positions before the start of the next term in July. (The education department extended the previous deadline, Feb. Here’s our guide on how to apply, what’s involved in serving and what you need to know before throwing your hat in the ring.

Eligibility

There are three types of positions on each 12-member council. You don’t need any special experience, but there are some prerequisites for each type of member, and each role has a different application process.

You can also apply to one of two positions appointed by the borough president for your district. For this one, you’ll have to be a local resident, or own or operate a business in the district you’re applying in. The position also asks for extensive “trade, business or education” knowledge, the DOE’s application says.

There is one nonvoting student position on every CEC. You can run for that spot if you’re a high school senior in the district you’re applying to and a member of student body government or hold a leadership position in a student organization, like a club.

Application Process

If you’re applying as a parent, here’s the form to fill out.
If you’re applying for one of the borough president’s appointee positions, here’s the form you’ll fill out.
If you’re applying as a high school senior, here’s the form you’ll need.
Make sure to have information at hand pertaining to your district, borough, employment, volunteering experience and investments by you or your spouse. Those will be checked to screen for possible conflicts of interest between you and DOE-funded groups or projects.
This form will ask you for your school’s DBN, a unique identifier for each school that stands for district, borough and school number. For the borough, you’ll have to use M for Manhattan, X for Bronx, K for Brooklyn, Q for Queens and R for Staten Island.
You’ll also need to create an NYC Schools account (NYCSA), if you don’t already have one, with the details of all your children enrolled in DOE schools. This is key, said Peña - a lot of candidates couldn’t proceed with their application because their NYCSA wasn’t set up.

Time Commitment

Two monthly meetings, which at minimum might go for a couple hours, are a given.

If you’re wondering what current and previous council members have to say - you can ask!

And for more details about the forums, signing up for NYCSA and the ins-and-outs of the election process, you can watch this video from the Department of Education. The video is also available in Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Urdu on Vimeo.

CEC24: A Closer Look

CEC 24 offers parents the opportunity to support and impact education at the district level. Children and Community are at the Heart of CEC 24. Explore which one of ouramazing schools is right for you!

As the new school year begins, CEC24 is excited to welcome all of our families back to what we know will be an amazing 2025-2026 school year.

As parents, we all strive for the very best education and support for our children. Whether your concerns involve busing, IEP needs, crossing guards, school safety, nutrition, curriculum, technology use, or any other issue affecting our students, CEC24 is here to represent you.

CEC24 is the voice of the parents and will always advocate for your family. As a parent myself, I know firsthand how tough it can be to know where to turn. That’s why CEC24 exists - this is where your voice as a parent will be heard. And I promise you, with this council and with me as President, your voice will be heard. You elected us to be your voice, and we take that responsibility to heart.

CEC24 is committed to working alongside District 24 leadership and the DOE to ensure every child receives the highest quality education. Together, as fellow parents, we will continue to advocate for all students in our district.

Wishing everyone a safe, successful, and inspiring school year! - Matthew J.

Community Education Councils in Pennsylvania

The Community Education Councils (CECs) are non-profit organizations that bring higher education opportunities to rural or educationally underserved communities in Pennsylvania. They serve their communities by assessing their education and training needs and partnering with providers to offer educational programs.

Programming includes programs, courses or classes leading to professional, vocational or occupational certification or licensure, an associate degree, a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, GED preparation, skill development or skill enhancement for the community workforce and customized job training for community employers.

List of Schools

P.S. STAR AcademyP.S. 034 Franklin D.P.S. PS 151 Yorkville Com.P.S. Booker T. P.S. 076 A.P.S. 165 Robert E.P.S. The Center School, M.S.P.S. 163 Alfred E.P.S. P.S. M.S. M.S.P.S. P.S. 170 Ralph A.M.S. The Christa McAuliffe School I.S. J.H.S.P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. 69 Vincent D.P.S. P.S. 160 William T.P.S. P.S. J.H.S. P.S.P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. 207 Elizabeth G.P.S. 222 Katherine R.P.S. P.S. P.S. J.H.S. P.S.P.S. P.S. M.S. P.S. J.H.S. 078 Roy H.P.S. 139 Alexine A.P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. J.H.S. 234 Arthur W.J.H.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S.I. S. L. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. I.S.P.S. P.S. 152 Gwendoline N.P.S. I.S. P.S. P.S. P.S./I.S. I.S. P.S. P.S.Q222 - Fire Fighter Christopher A. I.S. Erin St.

tags: #community #education #council #guide