Who We Are?
Community Education Councils (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. Their responsibilities include among other things, reviewing and evaluating their district’s educational programs, approving zoning lines, and holding public hearings on certain matters.
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.
What We Do?
The powers and duties of Community Education Councils are specified in NY State Education
Law §2590-e:
-
Review the District’s Educational Programs and assess their effect on student achievement.
-
Hold at least one meeting per month with the Superintendent (72-hour notice required), open to the public, where the public may discuss the current state of the schools in the district.
-
Submit an annual evaluation of the Superintendent to the Chancellor.
-
Provide input to the Chancellor and the Panel for Educational Policy on District concerns.
-
Serve as Liaisons to School Leadership Teams.
-
Approve zoning lines as submitted by the Superintendent.
-
Hold Public Hearings on the district’s capital needs and submit a plan to the Chancellor.
-
Hold a Town Hall with the Chancellor.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead