In 1948, the New York State legislature created Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to provide shared educational programs and services to school districts within the state.
Read more about the history of the BOCES.
Today there are 37 BOCES that are partnering with nearly all of the state’s school districts to help meet students’ evolving educational needs through cost-effective and relevant programs.
Find your local BOCES in the Regional BOCES Directory.
BOCES membership is not available to the “Big Five” city school districts: New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and Syracuse.
The BOCES network is capable of including municipalities and divisions of the state with school districts in the provision of cost-effective services.
The Role of District Superintendents
A District Superintendent is the chief executive officer of an individual BOCES. The District Superintendent is responsible for both the BOCES and its component districts. A District Superintendent also serves as the commissioner of education’s representative to the region.
District Superintendents can provide:
Liaison Services
The District Superintendent facilitates communications between the New York State Education Department and local districts, as well as other public and private agencies.
Superintendent Searches
Upon request, the District Superintendent may assist component school districts in their selection process of a new school superintendent. The District Superintendent at the BOCES may serve as a consultant for recruitment, screening and evaluation of candidates.
Consultant Services
Drawing from various resources, the District Superintendent is available to consult with school districts on a variety of educational topics including:
- Board-administration relationships
- New York State Board of Regents Standards
- State education department commissioner’s regulation interpretations and clarifications
- Management and planning
- School boundaries
- Reorganization and mergers
Find contact information for all District Superintendents in the Regional BOCES Directory.
Advocating for Educational Excellence and Equity
District Superintendents serve as vigorous agents for reform, effectively advocating for educational excellence and equity on behalf of all learners in New York state. Doing this requires collaboration and leadership at the regional and state level in partnership with the commissioner of education, the Board of Regents and local school districts.
Learn more about BOCES of New York State’s advocacy and legislative priorities.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
As a collective body, the 37 BOCES that partner with and support nearly all of the school districts in the state of New York are committed to embracing diversity and promoting equitable and inclusive practices in our schools. As educational leaders, we are dedicated to identifying and eliminating actions and policies that promote cultural biases as well as the exclusion of any group or class. This includes practices that promote institutional racism and create barriers that affect student learning outcomes.
Our educational system is stronger when each individual is embraced for who they are. As such, the BOCES across New York State will work to foster and maintain a safe school environment for students, families, faculty and staff regardless of race, gender, age, sexuality, ability, religion, national origin, gender identity and other identities. We will leverage our network of BOCES statewide to ensure equitable access to educational programs and services and address systemic racism and bias that leads to opportunity and achievement gaps.
BOCES of NYS has partnered with the New York State Education Department and Tangible Development to create a statewide repository of resources supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in New York schools.
Read more about this effort on the DEI Repository page.
Program Establishment and Operating Procedures
Under Education Law section 1950, a BOCES may provide any educational service that is requested by two or more component districts and approved by the commissioner of education according to need and practicality in a regional context.
The BOCES then notifies component districts of the approved services, asking for a firm commitment to participate by May 1 of each year. The BOCES and the component districts then enter into formal contracts. Contracts between BOCES and component districts, when approved by the commissioner, are effective for one year. After which they may be renewed, changed or cancelled. Districts may also authorize multi-year service requests from BOCES.
Learn more about BOCES criteria guidelines on the New York State Department of Education website.
Accountability
The BOCES network operates within a well-defined structure of accountability for effectiveness and efficiency. Subject to state audits and governed by a board of education, all BOCES also adhere to strict reporting requirements for programs and facilities.
View NY State Education Department (SED) Reports:
BOCES Surplus
BOCES surplus is money that was not spent during the year. As such, it is returned to the component school districts.
- BOCES surplus is a mandated accounting process that protects school districts and taxpayers because excess funds are always refunded.
- BOCES refund is revenue that is often derived due to an increase of purchased services above and beyond the initial service request of component districts and not spent during the year. As such, it is returned to the component school districts.
- Unlike businesses and school districts, BOCES begin each year with a $0 balance. Meaning, by law, they are very limited on how they can reserve funds. In layman’s terms, BOCES are not allowed to maintain a savings account.
- BOCES annual costs are set to handle unexpected liabilities, such as energy increases and fluctuations in student enrollment. This ensures that BOCES are not requesting critical operational funds from school districts in the middle of the school year.
- BOCES budgets are prepared prior to school districts making commitments about service subscriptions. As a result, BOCES budgets are at best estimates and predictions. BOCES are required by law to prepare their budgets more than 18 months in advance of the last day of the school year.
- BOCES are complex, yet highly effective entities that help schools and municipalities share resources and contain costs. Due to their cooperative nature, BOCES have been cited as a model for cost savings in New York state.