Citywide Council on Special Education (CCSE)

What is the Citywide Council on Special Education (CCSE)

The CCSE is an advisory body concerned with the education of students with disabilities. The CCSE is responsible for advising and commenting on the establishment of committees/subcommittees on special education in community school districts; and for issuing an annual report on how effectively students with disabilities are served by the NYC Department of Education and making recommendations for improvements. The CCSE must hold at least one public meeting per month during which the public may discuss issues facing students with disabilities.

The CCSE has 12 members:

• 9 are elected by members of the Community District, Borough, and District 75 Presidents’ Councils, and must be parents of students with an IEP who currently receive special education services that are provided and/or paid for by the NYC Department of Education;


• 2 are appointed by the Public Advocate and must be individuals with extensive experience and knowledge in educating, training, or employing individuals with disabilities; and


• 1 is a non-voting high school senior with an IEP.

Who is eligible to run for a seat on CCSE?

You are eligible to run if you are the parent of a student with an IEP who currently receives special education services provided and/or paid for by the NYC Department of Education. For the purpose of determining CCSE eligibility, “parent” is defined in Chancellor’s Regulation D-150 as:

• A parent (by birth or adoption, step parent, or foster parent), legal guardian, or person in parental relation to a child. A person in parental relation to a child is a person who is directly responsible for the care and custody of a child on a regular basis in lieu of a parent or legal guardian.

Of the 9 seats filled in the election, 2 are reserved for parents of students enrolled in a District 75 program.

What if I don't meet these eligibility criteria?

If you do not meet the above criteria, you may still be eligible to serve as one of the two Public Advocate appointees on the CCSE. Qualifications include extensive experience and knowledge in educating or employing persons with disabilities; additional requirements are listed in Chancellor’s Regulation D-150. Please CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION. Follow the instructions on the application for how to submit it. Appointee applications are not accepted on this website.

Can the parent of a District 75 student serve on the CCSE?

Yes. In fact, at least 2 of the 9 parent members must be parents of students enrolled in a District 75 program.

Can the parent of a private or charter school student serve on the CCSE?

Yes, as long as the student’s special education services are provided and/or paid for by the NYC Department of Education.

When is eligibility determined?

Eligibility is determined as of the date an application to run for a seat on the CCSE is submitted. Elected parent members of CCSE may serve only as long as they have a qualifying child with an IEP; they must resign if their child graduates or no longer has an IEP.

How and when can I apply to serve on the CCSE?

You can apply for the 2019-2021 term beginning on February 14, 2019. The application period ends at 11:59 pm on March 6, 2019. If you do not have access to a computer, ask your parent coordinator to arrange for you to use a computer at a school or district office, or call 311 for information on accessing computers at public libraries.