The Panel for Educational Policy, or PEP, allows for parent involvement on a citywide level. Responsible for some of the most significant decisions affecting the education system, the panel votes on the Chancellor’s proposed education policies, including school co-locations and closings, DOE contracts over $1 million, Gifted and Talented programs, and the citywide school budget. The PEP also advises the Chancellor on general matters affecting the city’s school districts and its students.
As of January 2023, the PEP will be expanded from 15 appointed voting members to 23. Each borough president appoints one member, CEC Presidents elect five members (one member from each borough), and the mayor appoints the remaining thirteen members (which includes 4 public school parents, with at least one parent of a child with an IEP, at least one parent of a child who is bilingual or in an ESL program, and at least one parent of a child who is in a D75 program). The Chancellor and the Comptroller serve as ex-officio non-voting members. The PEP is responsible for electing a chairperson from among the voting members.
The PEP meetings are open to the public, and scheduled meeting dates, minutes from past meetings and videos of past meetings are posted on the PEP page on the DOE’s website. Each monthly meeting includes a “public comment” section.