BOCES

BOCES stands for Boards of Cooperative Educational Services. These are regional educational service agencies in New York State that provide shared educational programs and services to school districts within their respective areas. BOCES were established to help local school districts offer specialized programs and resources that might be too costly or impractical for individual districts to provide on their own.

The services offered by BOCES vary widely and can include vocational and career technical education, special education services for students with disabilities, professional development for teachers and administrators, and shared administrative services such as purchasing and transportation. They also often provide instructional support services, curriculum development, and technology resources. The goal is to enhance educational opportunities for students and improve efficiency for participating school districts.

BOCES are governed by a board of education whose members are elected by the component school districts. Funding for BOCES comes from a combination of state aid, tuition paid by component districts for services, and fees for specific programs. They operate independently of the State Education Department but are regulated by it. In essence, BOCES serve as a cooperative mechanism for school districts to pool resources and expertise to better serve their students and communities.