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Regionalization

Regionalization

Planning Process

NYSED is requiring all component districts of a Sole Supervisory District to work with the District Superintendent to develop a regionalization plan that creates educational opportunities for ALL students. Non-BOCES component districts are invited to voluntarily participate in the regionalization planning process by the District Superintendents in neighboring Sole Supervisory Districts. All districts, including non-component districts, would benefit from discussing and exchanging effective practices and programs. 

Districts and Sole Supervisory Districts will work together to develop 37 regionalization plans by following the five steps outlined below. This process would be completed every 10 years, establishing a mechanism for continual improvement in New York State schools. NYSED would provide technical assistance and data throughout the regional planning process.

 

5 Step Regionalization Planning Process

Step 1. Strengths & Needs Review

Each component district of the state's Sole Supervisory Districts will complete a formal review using a Strengths & Needs Tool provided by NYSED to determine the types of regionalization efforts needed to improve student opportunities as well as their school and district operational efficiencies, with the goal of ensuring that each student can meet the vision of a high school graduate portrayed in the New York State Portrait of a Graduate in the New York State Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures.

See our "Materials & Guidance" page for the Strengths & Needs Tool and Guidance.

OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
NYSED
  • Develops and disseminates a strengths & needs tool in a form, manner, and platform as directed by the Commissioner, to be released in the summer of 2024.
  • Creates and disseminates FAQ/guidance.
  • Provides technical assistance and data.
  • Shares the regional results with District Superintendents.
District Superintendent
  • Works with component districts to ensure completion of the Strengths & Needs Tool.
  • Analyzes district data and information for the Sole Supervisory District and region at large.
School District
  • Collects and summarizes the regionalization needs of the district via the Strengths & Needs Tool provided by NYSED.
  • Submits the Strengths & Needs Tool to NYSED.
  • Meets with the District Superintendent to discuss aggregate needs from the region.

Strengths & Needs Tool Due by November 1, 2024

Step 2. Regionalization Plan Convenings

Across New York State, component districts will engage in local discussions with other districts and stakeholders in their Sole Supervisory District with the goal of developing regionalization plans. Non-BOCES component districts will be invited to voluntarily participate in the conversations by the District Superintendents in neighboring Sole Supervisory Districts. The discussions will be facilitated by the District Superintendents who serve as representatives of the Commissioner of Education.

See our “Materials & Guidance” page for facilitator guidance and post-convening tools.

OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
NYSED
  • Provides technical assistance and data, as needed.
District Superintendent
  • Convenes all component districts (and any non-component school districts who voluntarily participate) within the Sole Supervisory District.
  • Ensures direct participation.
  • Leads conversations to process the regional needs identified in the data from the Strengths & Needs Tool (Step 1) and explores additional needs and innovative collaborative opportunities.
  • Serves as a point of contact for NYSED regarding any technical assistance or data needs relating to the convenings.
School District
  • The superintendent of each component district and other personnel attend and participate in each convening, as directed by the District Superintendent.

First Convening to Occur No Later than November 1, 2024

Step 3. Regionalization Plan Interim Progress Report

The District Superintendent, in collaboration with the component districts, will lead the writing of the interim progress report based on data and ideas discussed at the convenings. These reports will provide NYSED with information that could help shape budget and legislative priorities, lead to policy or regulation changes, as well as prompt the Department to provide new or additional types of support for the planning process.

See our “Materials & Guidance” page for Interim Report Template and Guidance.

OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
NYSED
  • Provides technical assistance and data, as needed. 
  • Develops a form/template for the interim progress report and regionalization plans, to be released by the fall of 2024.  
  • Reviews, analyzes, and provides feedback on interim progress reports to all District Superintendents by May 31, 2025. 
  • Collects innovative ideas and approaches and shares them with the field. 
District Superintendent
  • Facilitates discussion among component districts towards the development of a comprehensive region-wide plan. 
  • Supports component districts as needed. 
  • Works with bordering Sole Supervisory Districts and districts on regionalization efforts if applicable. 
  • Submits the interim progress report to NYSED. 
School District
  • Engages in conversations with districts. 
  • Collaborates with the District Superintendent in the development of the regionalization plan. 

Interim Progress Report Due by April 1, 2025

Step 4. Regionalization Plan Submission, Review, and Approval

The District Superintendent, in collaboration with the component districts, will lead the writing of the final Regionalization Plan and submit the plan to NYSED. NYSED will review the plan and determine if the plan sufficiently ensures that all students in the region have equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities.

See our “Materials & Guidance” page for Final Plan Template and Guidance.

OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
NYSED
  • Provides technical assistance, as needed. 
  • Reviews and provides feedback on submitted regionalization plans by November 30, 2025. 
  • Approves final version of the regionalization plan for implementation. 
District Superintendent
  • Works with NYSED and component districts to address feedback from NYSED on the interim reports and implement edits as needed. 
  • Submits the Regionalization Plan to NYSED. 
School District
  • Works with the District Superintendent to address feedback from NYSED on the interim reports and implement edits as needed.

Final Plans Due by October 1, 2025

Step 5. Regionalization Plan Implementation

Regionalization plans will commence implementation no later than the start of school year (SY) 2026-2027.

OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
NYSED
  • Provides ongoing technical assistance, data, and evaluative metrics regarding regionalization plan implementation. 
  • Reviews and approves any plan amendments, if applicable. 
  • Conducts site visits and disseminates effective practices regarding regionalization. 
District Superintendent
  • Works with components districts to ensure that regionalization plans are implemented at the beginning of SY 2026-2027. 
  • Facilitates the submission of any plan amendments to NYSED, if applicable. 
School District
  • Works with the District Superintendent to implement regionalization plans at the beginning of SY 2026-2027. 
  • Works with the District Superintendent to develop any plan amendments for NYSED review/approval, as appropriate. 

To Commence No Later than the Beginning of SY 2026-2027

Timeline

Regionalization plans are designed around 10-year implementation cycles. Initial regionalization planning follows the  timeline below (2024-2034).

NOVEMBER 01, 2024 – Strengths & Needs Tool from Each Component District Due to NYSED
BEGINNING NOVEMBER 01, 2024 – Regional Convenings Held by District Superintendents
APRIL 01, 2025 – Interim Progress Reports Due to NYSED
OCTOBER 01, 2025 – Final Regionalization Plans Due to NYSED
FALL 2026 – Regionalization Plan Implementation Begins
FALL 2034 – New Cycle Commences