Who is Responsible for Running a BOCES?
The Cooperative Board consists of members who have served as school board members in their local school districts. The Board members are elected to serve three-year terms. The chief executive officer of a BOCES also serves as the District Superintendent of Schools and works closely with local school districts as both a liaison to and agent of the New York State Commissioner of Education. Brief History of BOCES in New York State In 1948, the New York State legislature created boards of cooperative educational services to provide shared services as requested by school districts in common geographical areas. The focus of this legislation was to enable rural school districts the ability to provide specialized educational services they could not previously afford. The incentive for school districts to participate in their BOCES was favorable state aid, such that local districts soon realized the advantages of working cooperatively. This regional structure is not unique in the United States,
