The Department of Education is launching elections for a new citywide council composed of parents of students who are learning to speak English -- known in DOE parlance as "English language learners" or ELLs. This is in addition to the already existent citywide council for special education parents, citywide council for high school parents, andcommunity education councils in the 32 school districts.

Parents may nominate themselves for election at www.powertotheparents.org (deadline March 12). From April 12- 26, borough-wide forums will introduce the candidates. Parents of kids in ESL or bilingual education will be able to weigh in on an "advisory" vote between April 26-30. The official selectors - elected PA and PTA representatives - will vote May 11-12. All voting is online; results will be announced on May 31.

The establishment of a Citywide Education Council for English Language Learners is required by amendments to the state education law passed in August 2009. Advocates for Children has expressed concerns about voter eligibility, barriers for parents without online access, and council member training.

Parent participation is another concern. In June 2009, we reported that only 1,190 PTA officers out of an estimated 4,500 potential voters cast ballots in the Community Education Council elections. [CEC elections take place every two years. The next election is slated for May 2011.] A New York City PTA president commented that she did not vote because there were fewer candidates than seats. "Everyone was a shoe-in," she wrote.

A new selection is also taking place in May to bring the Citywide Council on Special Education in line with the amended law. Now, CCSE members must include parents or guardians of all students with individualized education programs (IEPs), not just parents of District 75 students.

Parents or guardians who need paper applications, should contact the Office of Family Engagement and Advocacy at 212-374-4118 or e-mail ofea@schools.nyc.gov.

We'd like to know: Do you attend your district or citywide CEC meetings? If so, do parents actively participate? What can the city do to improve parent participation from ELL families?