BOCES well-positioned to help schools fulfill proposed new graduation requirements in Career and Technical Education |
FOR RELEASE: November 12, 2025
As the state Board of Regents considers a proposal to require all high school students to earn a minimum of one credit in career and technical education (CTE) in order to graduate, the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) is reminding New Yorkers of a proven resource they can tap into should the Regents adopt this new graduation requirement: Boards of Cooperative Education Services, more commonly known as BOCES.
"As the Board of Regents reassesses the skills and competencies that students need for success in tomorrow’s world, school leaders need only look to their local BOCES, not just for meeting any new career and technical education requirement, but for offering a host of educational programs and experiences that will indeed help students reach their full potential," said NYSSBA President Sandra Ruffo, who also serves as president of the Broome Tioga BOCES.
Local school districts will most likely have several options for meeting any new CTE requirement for students, such as coursework or internships. The state’s 37 BOCES offer programs in a wide range of occupations. Many of these programs correspond to regional needs identified by the state’s Regional Economic Development Councils. BOCES also provide professional development for teachers and administrators.
The proposed CTE requirement, tentatively scheduled to begin with the 2027-28 incoming freshman class, seems timely. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce recently noted that each year there is, and will be for the next several years, a greater demand for employees with credentials that could lead to better paying "middle skills" jobs – i.e., jobs that might require certification or more, yet not a four-year degree – in certain occupational categories. According to Georgetown, some of these middle-skills occupations include mechanics, software developers, and operations managers.
BOCES offer programs specific to regional needs. Many programs are aligned with several of the occupational categories outlined in Georgetown’s research including computer programming in the Mid-Hudson, digital gaming/software/IT in the Capital Region, and heavy equipment repair in Central New York.
Currently, more than 43,000 students hone competencies through BOCES CTE programs and more than 4,590 businesses sit on BOCES CTE advisory councils.
"Everyone involved in public education has the same goal: to help students reach their highest potential and prepare them for the world that awaits after school," said Ruffo. "BOCES is an excellent way to achieve that goal."
-30-