On Board Online • June 9, 2025
By Mark Snyder
Senior Leadership Development Manager
The governing body of a BOCES is referred to as "the BOCES Board of Education" or "the BOCES board." I suppose that's a little odd when you consider that BOCES stands for "Board of Cooperative Educational Services" - the board of the board? - but that's the way it is.
How much do you know about BOCES boards? Let's find out.
1. True or False: All school districts in New York State are part of a BOCES and have access to their services.
Answer: False. According to the 40th edition of School Law, which is co-published by NYSSBA and the New York State Bar Association, 684 of 693 operating school districts in New York State are part of a BOCES. Membership in a BOCES is not available to the Big 5 city school districts (Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers), although the Education Law allows Rochester to buy BOCES health services.
2. What do you call the geographic area covered by a BOCES?
A. The BOCES District.
B. The All-Components Area.
C. The Supervisory District.
D. There is no official name for this area.
Answer: C
3. True or False: To be eligible to become a member of a BOCES Board of Education, one must be a sitting member of a component school district's board of education.
Answer: False. One must be a resident of a component school district, but there is no requirement that one be a sitting school board member. A BOCES board member cannot be an employee of a component school district.
4. True or False: Candidates for election to a BOCES board must present a petition with at least 50 signatures.
Answer: False. There is no process for self-nomination. Nominations are the result of (1) a vote by a component school boards or (2) a vote by the BOCES board itself.
Elections for BOCES boards take place each April. The voters are the school boards of each component district; each school board gets one vote per open seat on the BOCES board.
BOCES board members generally serve three years, and members can be re-elected for multiple terms.
5. What are the powers of a BOCES board?
A. At their sole discretion, appoint a district superintendent.
B. Limit student enrollment in a particular BOCES program.
C. Enter into contracts to serve all of the following: component school districts, other in-state school districts, out-of-state school districts and non-public schools.
D. All of the above.
E. All of the above except one.
Answer: E. A BOCES board does not have sole discretion to appoint a district superintendent because district superintendents also report to the commissioner of education, who must approve the appointment.
The BOCES board is also responsible for oversight of the organization's finances. This includes reviewing and adopting the annual budget, approving contracts and major purchases, and ensuring fiscal transparency and responsible use of public funds. Each participating school district contributes to the BOCES budget based on the services they use, so it is essential that the board manages these funds carefully and equitably.
BOCES board members play an important advocacy role. They can represent the educational interests of their entire region in interactions with state and federal legislators.
The state supports BOCES programs and services by partially reimbursing school districts for their cost. For three decades, the "aidable salary cap" was stuck at $30,000, but I am happy to report a change. After patient and persistent advocacy by BOCES, NYSSBA and others, the Legislature and governor have agreed to raise the cap to $60,000 over the next three years. Yay!
BOCES boards tend to attract experienced school board members who, invariably, are deeply committed to improving public education. As someone who visits with BOCES boards several times a year to lead retreats or training events, I can tell you that they are a pleasure to work with. We all should be proud of BOCES and their boards.