BOCES in NYS

BOCES were created in 1948 by the New York State legislature to provide shared educational programs and services to school districts within the state. The chief executive officer of a BOCES also serves as the District Superintendent and works closely with local school districts as both a liaison to and agent of the New York State Commissioner of Education.

Today there are 37 BOCES. BOCES membership is not currently 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.