Nominations are open for parents who want to serve for the next two years on Citywide or District Community Education Councils, advisory boards which advocate  on zoning, how school buildings are used, and how DOE policies affect schools in each district.  If you'd like to serve on a council, you can fill out a short online application on the website PowertotheParents.org or print it out and send it in.

Once applications have been submitted, there will be public forums in April to meet the candidates. In May parents may cast advisory votes to instruct Parents Association officers who do the actual selecting.

If the past is any indication, most parents who want to serve won't have much competition. Last week, a  Daily News article took the DOE to task for not publicizing the process just two weeks before applications are due, on April 9. Now there is a link on the DOE's homepage. Some councils have had trouble keeping enough membersto make a quorum, while others have active members andvocal audience participation at meetings, especially when DOE officials are present.

Considering running for a seat? Check out posts by Insideschools' bloggers' Jennifer Freeman and Jacqueline Wayans on the pros and cons of serving. And there's a lengthy Q&A on PowertotheParents.org.

Insideschools, and other parents, would like to hear from other citywide and district council representatives. Please share your experiences in comments.