CCELL Advisory Election Results

Citywide Results

District Results

What is the Citywide Council on English Language Learners (CCELLs)?

The educational policy including the provision of a new Citywide Council on English Language Learners (CCELL) is tasked with commenting on any educational or instructional policy involving bilingual and English as a second language (“ESL”) programs. Nine of the eleven voting members of the CCELL must be parents of students receiving bilingual or English as a second language services. Two additional voting members must be appointed by the Public Advocate and must have extensive experience and knowledge in the education of English language learners. A high school senior who is or has been in bilingual or English as a second language program will be selected by the Chief Achievement Officer for Special Education and English Language Learners to serve as a non-voting member for one year.

What does a member of the Citywide Council on English Language Learners do?

Citywide Council on English Language Learners members hold at least one meeting per month during which they discuss the issues facing English Language Learners.

The Citywide Council on English Language Learners issues an annual report on the effectiveness of English Language Learner services and makes recommendations on how to improve them.

Who cannot serve on the CCELL Council?

Candidates for Citywide Council on English Language Learners may not be employees of the Department of Education, or elected or appointed public officials. Anyone who has been convicted of a felony cannot serve on a Council. Anyone who has been removed from a Citywide or Community Education Council for “an act of malfeasance” directly related to his/her service cannot serve on a council. Anyone who has been convicted of a crime directly related to service on such a council is also ineligible. And anyone determined to have a financial conflict of interest by the Department of Education’s Ethics Officer is also ineligible. In addition, regardless of eligibility, selected candidates cannot serve on more than one council.

Do Council members get paid?

No. Community and Citywide Education Council members volunteer their services, but receive limited reimbursement for some expenses.

How are parents nominated to serve on the CCELL Council?

Parents interested in serving on the CCELL self-nominate by submitting a completed application and disclosure form online at www.powertotheparents.org. Parents may apply to only one community or citywide council.

How will parent members of the CCELL Council be selected?

The Presidents’ Council for each community school district, borough and D75 select one parent of an ELL student from among its members to serve as a selector of CCELL members. In the event that there is no parent of an ELL student on the Presidents’ Council, the Presidents’ Council will solicit a parent of an ELL student from the district or borough to volunteer one parent to serve as a selector of CCELL members. Parents who are candidates for the CCELL may not be eligible to serve as selectors.

In addition to nominating themselves, are there other ways for parents to be involved with the selection process for the new Councils?

There are two ways parents can get involved in the selection process:

1. In each borough, OFEA, in collaboration with each Presidents’ Council will convene a nominees forum, where nominees for CCELL will be permitted to make presentations to selectors, parents and the community.
2. Following the nominees’ forum, an online advisory vote for each district, including Districts 75 and borough high schools will take place at www.powertotheparents.org. At the community district level the advisory vote is open to the all parents of students receiving ELL services and enrolled in a New York City public school.

Will Council members be trained for their role?

The Department of Education offer trainings for Council members throughout the school year.

What kind of time commitment would I be making as a Council member?

As a council member you are expected to attend at least one public meeting and business meeting per month. You are also expected to participate in public hearings that coordinated by the Department of Education in conjunction with school and district community.

Candidate Forums

Commence: 5:00pm

Conclude: 8:00pm

Meet the Candidates: District and borough parent leaders, along with the Department of Education, will host forums for parents to meet and ask questions of Council candidates.