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Regionalization

Regionalization

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements of regionalization for component school districts?

All component districts of a Sole Supervisory District are required to:

  1. Complete the Strengths & Needs Tool to summarize and reflect on their local strengths, needs, and vision in the Fall of 2024;
  2. Participate in regional convenings to discuss aggregate needs of the region with other component districts and the District Superintendent of your Sole Supervisory District;
  3. Continuously engage with other component districts and collaborate with the District Superintendent to develop a regionalization plan;
  4. Collaborate to implement and amend, as appropriate, regionalization plans beginning in school year 2026-2027; and
  5. Engage in the regionalization planning process to reflect on progress and update plans on a 10-year cycle.
Are the Big 5 and non-component districts required to participate in regionalization?

Big 5 and non-component districts are not required to participate in regionalization planning. These districts will be invited to voluntarily participate in the conversations by the District Superintendents in neighboring Sole Supervisory Districts.

What are Sole Supervisory Districts?

New York State has 37 Sole Supervisory Districts. They are commonly referred to as the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) regions as each Sole Supervisory District houses a regional BOCES that provides cooperative educational programs for two or more school districts.

Most public school districts in New York State are component districts of a BOCES, or Sole Supervisory District, though several small city school districts across the state are not members of a BOCES (“non-component districts”). Although BOCES component districts do not include the “Big Five” city school districts of Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers, these districts will be invited to voluntarily participate in regionalization conversations. Each Sole Supervisory District is overseen by a District Superintendent who serves as the chief executive officer of the regional BOCES as well as the regional representative of the Commissioner of Education.

Visit the BOCES website for more information about the Sole Supervisory Districts, including contact information for the District Superintendents and their staff.

See a map of all 37 BOCES regions at this link.

Can we make changes to the plan over time, even after it is approved?

Yes, the regionalization plan can be amended at any time and will be required to be updated on a 10-year cycle.

What technical assistance and support will NYSED provide?

NYSED’s goal is to provide a supportive environment and the tools necessary for Sole Supervisory Districts and component districts to engage in the regionalization planning process. To that end, NYSED will provide templates, data collection and review tools, and guidance for each step of the regionalization planning process. (See our “Materials & Guidance” webpage.) NYSED staff will also be available to answer any questions, provide technical assistance, data, and other supports to schools, districts, and BOCES as they develop their regionalization plans throughout the process.

Contact us with questions at: regionalization@nysed.gov

Why are the BOCES leading this work?

BOCES within Sole Supervisory Districts stand at the forefront of enabling this essential work for the following reasons: 

  • Subject-matter expertise: With their extensive experience in providing shared services, such as special education, career and technical education, alternative education, and instructional technology solutions, BOCES are well-equipped to lead discussions on regionalization. 
  • Regional convening power: Regionalization initiatives will benefit from the convening power of BOCES to bring together districts and stakeholders and facilitate broad, inclusive, and collaborative efforts across regions. 
  • Fiscal mechanism: BOCES also have the benefit of directing state aid through cooperative service agreements (CO-SERs) that can support regionalization and offset the costs of plan development and implementation. BOCES and NYSED will leverage CO-SERs to support the regionalization planning and implementation process for districts.  

NYSED and the Board of Regents are committed to strengthening the Department’s role as a service agency that supports and facilitates field-informed and field-driven approaches to real change and reform across our state’s educational landscape. The process of statewide regionalization planning through this initiative will produce the data and innovative thinking to inspire real change for our schools and students.