The Union of Parents Committees in East Jerusalem was founded in 2006 and is comprised of representatives from parents committees in 36 public schools in East Jerusalem.  The Union was established with the goal of enabling every student in East Jerusalem the option of attending a municipal school, thus implementing the Israeli Law of Compulsory Free Education, which also applies to East Jerusalem residents.
 
The Union promotes the building of classrooms in East Jerusalem, in order to decrease the enormous classroom shortage (currently 1300 classrooms) and improve the quality and the standard of education in the schools. 
 
The Union serves as the representative of East Jerusalem’s parents in dealings with the Jerusalem Municipality, the Ministry of Education and other state authorities.