LSC Elections: Parent, Community, and Staff Candidates

Check Your Eligibility

Parents, community members, students, principals, and school staff may all serve on LSCs. Criteria for eligibility depend on the member type.

• Parent member candidates must have a child enrolled in the school
• Community member candidates must reside within the school's attendance area or voting district (for city-wide enrollment schools)
• School staff member candidates must be assigned to perform a majority of their work duties at the school.

View Eligibility Rules

Find Your LSC

View the 2026 LSC Election Map to find seats that you are eligible to run for in the upcoming election. The map will display school boundaries to help you locate schools where you may be eligible to serve. You must live within a school’s attendance boundary to apply for LSC membership as a community member. You may apply for LSC membership as a parent at the school your child attends.

View Election Map

Complete the Nomination Forms

Every candidate must complete nomination forms as part of their application. This year, applicants will use DocuSign to apply electronically. DocuSign replaces paper applications for adult candidates completing their forms in English or Spanish. All online nomination forms must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on January 20, 2026.

Apply in English

Apply in Spanish

Using DocuSign

• Email Requirement: You’ll need to use your own (not shared) valid email address that you can access. This email will be used to save your work, send you a copy of your completed application, and confirm your ID verification later in the process.
• Getting started: After opening the application, click the “START” button below to begin your. If you can, try to complete the application in one sitting to make the process easier.
• Save and Finish Later: If you’re not able to finish the application in one sitting, don’t worry—just click “FINISH LATER.” You’ll receive an email from DocuSign Webforms with a secure link to return and complete your application at another time.
• Submitting Your Application: Make sure you fill in all required fields and click “SIGN” in each required section to submit your application successfully. Once you submit, you’ll automatically get an email with a copy of your completed form.
• More Languages: If you need an application in a language other than English or Spanish, you’ll continue to use paper forms. You can ask for the forms at your school or download them below.

Verify Your Identity

To finalize your application, you must also present two forms of identification IN PERSON to verify your eligibility. You can do this at either:

• The school where you plan to serve
• The Office of Local School Council Relations at 2651 West Washington, Chicago, IL

Mailed, e-mailed, faxed, or copied identification will NOT be accepted. This should also be completed by 3:00 p.m., January 20, 2026 You’ll receive an email confirmation once your ID has been verified.

Examples of acceptable forms of identification include:

• Driver’s License
• State of Illinois ID
• Voter Registration Card
• MediPlan/Medicaid Card
• IDPA Card
• Permanent Resident Card
• Matrícula Consular
• Student ID
• Public Library Card
• Other Governmental Agency I.D.
• Current Lease
• Current Utility Bill
• Credit or Debit Card
• Employment ID
• Court Documents

Attend a Candidate Forum

Following the nomination period, candidates will have an opportunity to attend a Candidate Forum at the school between February 23, 2026, and February 27, 2026. (Please ask the principal for the exact date and time.)

Candidates will also have the opportunity to have the school distribute campaign literature to parents on Campaign Literature Distribution Day on March 10, 2026. To do so, school staff candidates must submit their literature by 3:00 p.m., March 05, 2026. Parent and community candidates must submit their literature, in sets of 35 or as directed by the school, by 3:00 p.m., March 05, 2026. An LSC Election Guide, including election rules and procedures, is available for review in the school’s main office.