List of Legally Required Policies
POLICIES AND REGULATIONS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION BY ALL SCHOOL BOARDS AND BOCES
Prepared by the New York State School Boards Association
Current as of Nov 5, 2026
| NYSSBA # | Policy Name | Required by: | Notes, other requirements | Required for BOCES too? |
| 0100 | Equal Opportunity | 42 USC §2000-e (Title VII of Civil Rights Act (1964)) |
Yes (BOCES as employer) | |
| 0101 | Gender Neutral Single-Occupancy Bathrooms | Education Law §409-m | Yes | |
| 0110.2 | Sexual Harassment in the Workplace | Labor Law §201-g | Yes (BOCES as employer) | |
| 0111 | Sexual Harassment Grievances Under Title IX | 20 USC §1681 (Title IX of the Federal Education Amendments (1972)) 34 CFR §106.8 |
Required for recipients of any federal financial assistance. Must be posted on district/BOCES website, if one exists. | Yes |
| 0115 and 0115-R | Student Bullying Prevention and Intervention (Policy and Regulation) |
Education Law §13 (Dignity for All Students Act) 8 NYCRR §100.2(jj) |
Must be posted on district /BOCES website, if one exists. | Yes (included in regulations) |
| 1050 | Annual District Election and Budget Vote | Education Law §2035 (2) | Required element: submission of propositions. | No (elections not applicable to BOCES) |
| 1120 and 1120-R | School District Records (Policy and Regulation) |
Public Officers Law §87(1)(b), (6) (Freedom of Information Law) | Also required: policy to notify employees when responding to a FOIL request for disciplinary records. | Yes: (see definition of “agency” in §86(3) |
| 1900 | Title I Parent and Family Engagement | 20 USC §6318(a)(2) 34 CFR Part 200 |
Required for recipients of federal Title I funds. Must be developed with and agreed to by parents of Title I students in the district. Policy must be reviewed annually. | No (BOCES are an “educational service agency” included within LEA under 20 USC §7801, but do not receive Title I funds) |
| 1925 | Interpreters for Hearing Impaired Parents | Education Law §3230(2) 8 NYCRR §100.2(aa) |
No (local district responsibility) | |
| 2160 | Code of Ethics | General Municipal Law §§806-808 | No (BOCES may adopt a code of ethics as “municipalities” under §800(4). Under §807, must post §§800-809) | |
| 2245 | Ex Officio Student Member of the Board (Must establish a process; NYSSBA recommends this be a Board policy) |
Education Law §§1702(3); 1709; 1804(12); 1901(2); 1950(2-c); 2109; 2502(10); 2552; 2553(1-a), (11) | Not required for Common School Districts or Union Free School Districts that do not operate a high school | Yes |
| 4010 | Equivalence in Instructional Staff and Materials | 20 USC §6321(c)(2) | Required for recipients of federal Title I funds with more than one school for the grade span. | No (BOCES are an “educational service agency” included within LEA under 20 USC §7801, but do not receive Title I funds) |
| 4311.1 and 4311.1-R | Display of the Flag (Policy and Regulation) |
Education Law §420 | Likely (BOCES not specifically included, but flag rules generally observed; policy is recommended) | |
| 4321 | Programs for Students with Disabilities Under IDEA and Article 89 | 20 USC §§1412; 1413(a)(1) (IDEA) 8 NYCRR §200.2(b)(1) |
No (BOCES are an “educational service agency” included within LEA under 20 USC §1401, but do not receive IDEA funds) | |
| 4321.1 | Provision of Special Education Services in the Least Restrictive Environment | 8 NYCRR §200.2(b)(4) | No (BOCES are an “educational service agency” included within LEA under 20 USC §1401, but do not receive IDEA funds) | |
| 4321.2 | Schoolwide Pre-Referral Approaches and Interventions | 8 NYCRR §200.2(b)(7) | No (local district responsibility) | |
| 4321.5 | Confidentiality and Access to IEPs, IESPs and SPs | Education Law §4402(7) 8 NYCRR §§200.2(b)(6), (10) |
No (local district responsibility) | |
| 4321.6 | Availability of Alternative Format Instructional Materials for Students with Disabilities | 8 NYCRR §200.2(b)(9) | No (local district responsibility) | |
| 4321.7 | Districtwide and Statewide Assessments of Students with Disabilities | 8 NYCRR §200.2(b)(12), (13) | Testing accommodations and universal design principles. | No (local district responsibility) |
| 4321.8 | Impartial Hearing Officer Appointment and Compensation | 8 NYCRR §200.2(b)(8) | No (local district responsibility) | |
| 4321.11 | Public Report on Revisions to District Policies, Practices and Procedures Upon a Finding of Significant Disproportionality | 8 NYCRR §200.2(b)(14) | No (local district responsibility) | |
| 4321.12 and 4321.12-R |
Timeout and Physical Restraint (All Students) (Policy and Regulation) |
Education Law §4402(9) 8 NYCRR §19.5 |
Applies to all students, not just those with disabilities. Must be posted on district/BOCES website (if one exists) and available at district/BOCES and school offices. | Yes |
| 4321.13 | Preschool Students with Disabilities | 20 USC §§1412; 1413(a)(1) (IDEA) 8 NYCRR §200.2(b)(2), (5) |
No (BOCES are an “educational service agency” included within LEA under 20 USC §1401, but do not receive IDEA funds) | |
| 4321.14 | Special Education Personnel Qualifications and Training | 8 NYCRR §200.2(b)(3), (11) | No (local district responsibility) | |
| 4526.1 and 4526.1-R | Internet Safety (Policy and Regulation) |
47 USC §254; 20 USC §7131 (Children’s Internet Protection Act) |
Required only if receiving the E-Rate discount. | Yes (BOCES as “educational service agency” included within LEA under 20 USC §7801) |
| 4533 | Safe Mentoring (No NYSSBA sample policy available) | Social Services Law §390-e (allows districts/BOCES operating a formal mentoring program – i.e., matching adult mentors one-to-one with children – to perform criminal history background checks of prospective employees and/or volunteer adult mentors) |
Required only if the district /BOCES has such a program and chooses to conduct such criminal history background checks. | Yes (BOCES as “educational institution”) |
| 4750 | Promotion (Placement) and Retention of Students | Education Law §305(47) 8 NYCRR §100.2(ll) |
Annual parent notification and explanation. Policy must be posted on district website, if one exists. | No |
| 4772 and 4772-R | Graduation Ceremonies (Policy and Regulation) |
Education Law §§3204(4-b) | Annual parent notification | No |
| 4850 | Animals in the Schools | Education Law §809(4) (requires a policy on notifying students of opt-out of animal dissection) |
No (Notice given by local district) | |
| 5100 | Student Attendance | 8 NYCRR §104.1(i) | Policy must be reviewed if annual building level data declines. | Yes |
| 5151 and 5151-R | Students in Temporary Housing (Policy and Regulation) |
42 USC §§11432(e)(3), (g)(1)(I), (J); 11433(b) | Yes (BOCES as “educational service agency” included within LEA under 20 USC §7801) | |
| 5300 | Code of Conduct
Required elements:
2. Roles of teachers, administrators, other school personnel, school board and parents. 3. Acceptable and unacceptable conduct, dress and language on school property and school functions for students, school personnel, and visitors.
5. Complying with the Dignity for All Students Act (prohibiting certain forms of discrimination and harassment, and responding to such acts) 6. Procedures to assure the security and safety of students and staff. 7. Reporting crimes to local law enforcement agencies. 8. Disciplinary measures, detention, suspension, and classroom removal. 9. Discipline of students with disabilities. 10. Parental notification of student violations of the Code of Conduct. 11. Referral to human services.
13. Staff in-service programs. 14. Referral to criminal justice systems, or juvenile delinquent or PINS petition. 15. Disciplinary measures to be taken when students possess illegal substances or weapons, or use physical force, vandalize, violate another student’s civil rights, harass or make threats of violence. |
Education Law §2801 8 NYCRR §100.2(l)(2) Specific citations: 1. 8 NYCRR §100.2(l)(2)(ii)(q)
8. Ed. Law §2801(2)(e), (f)
12. Ed. Law §2801(2)(l), (m)
14. Ed. Law §2801(2)(j)
|
Policy must be reviewed annually, and posted on district/BOCES website, if one exists. | Yes |
| 5405 | Wellness | Public Law 108-265, §204 (Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization) 7 CFR §210.31 |
Required only if participating in federal meal programs | Yes (BOCES as LEA under 7 CFR §210.2) |
| 5460 and 5460-R | Child Abuse in a Domestic Setting (Policy and Regulation) |
Education Law §3209-a | Policy on mandatory reporting requirements. | No (However, employers of mandated reporters must provide written info on reporting) |
| 5500 and 5500-R | Student Records (Policy and Regulation) |
20 USC §1232g (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) 34 CFR §§99.7; 99.35 Education Law §2-d(5)(c) |
Required for recipients of federal education fund | Yes (BOCES as “educational agency”) |
| 5550 | Student Privacy Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) | 20 USC §1232h(c) 34 CFR Part 98 |
Required for recipients of federal education funds. | No (coordinate with local districts if covered surveys are administered) |
| 5605 | Student Voter Registration and Pre-registration | Election Law §5-507 | Yes | |
| 5695 | Students and Personal Electronic Devices | Education Law §2803 | Policy must address the use of certain “internet enabled devices” | Yes |
| 5710 | School Safety and Educational Climate (SSEC) Reporting | 8 NYCRR §100.2(gg)(5) | Yes | |
| 6240 and 6240-R | Investments (Policy and Regulation) |
General Municipal Law §39 | Policy must be reviewed annually. | Yes |
| 6685 | Medicaid Compliance (as part of a plan to detect fraud, waste and abuse in Medicaid claims) | Social Services Law §363-d 18 NYCRR Part 521 |
Required for districts with $500,000+ annual Medicaid claims. | No (local district responsibility) |
| 6700 and 6700-R | Purchasing (Policy and Regulation) |
General Municipal Law §104-b Education Law §§1604(29-a); 1709(4-a); 2503(7-a); 2554(7-a) |
Policy must be reviewed annually. | Yes (BOCES as “political subdivisions” under GML §100) |
| 6710 | Purchasing Authority (naming the individuals responsible for purchasing) | General Municipal Law §104-b | Policy must be updated biennially (every other year) | Yes |
| 6741 | Contracting for Professional Services | General Municipal Law §104-b | Could be included within general purchasing policy | Yes (BOCES as “political subdivisions” under GML §100) |
| 6770 | BOCES Personal Property Accountability | Education Law §1950(18) 8 NYCRR §170.3(i) |
Required for BOCES only. Policy must be reviewed annually. | Yes |
| 8113 | Extreme Heat Condition Days | Education Law §409-n | Yes | |
| 8130.2 | Workplace Violence Prevention | Labor Law §27-b 12 NYCRR §800.6(e) |
Required only if there are 20 or more full-time permanent employees. | Yes |
| 8140 | Unsafe School Transfer Choice | 20 USC §7912(a) Education Law §2802(7) 8 NYCRR §120.3 |
Required only for districts/BOCES that can offer a transfer. | Yes (BOCES are an “educational service agency” included within LEA under 20 USC §7801, and are included in §2802(7)) |
| 8414.5 and 8414.5-R | Alcohol & Drug Testing of Bus Drivers (Policy and Regulation) |
49 CFR §382.601 | Required if the district/BOCES employs persons subject to testing | Yes |
| 8505 | "Charging" Meals and Other Food Items | Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, Public Law 111-296, Sec. 143 USDA Memo, SP 46-2016: Unpaid Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policies (07/08/2016) |
Not required if all schools in the district/BOCES serve meals free to all students | Yes (BOCES are an “educational service agency” included within LEA under 20 USC §7801) |
| 8635 and 8635-R | Information and Data Privacy, Security, Breach and Notification (Policy and Regulation) |
State Technology Law §208 Education Law §2-d 8 NYCRR Part 121 |
Policy must be posted on district/BOCES website, if one exists. Must provide notice to all officers and employees. | Yes (§2-d(5)(c) and 8 NYCRR §121.5 includes BOCES. STT §208 does not define “municipalities or other local agencies,” but recommended) |
| 9140.1 and 9140.1-R | Staff Complaints and Grievances (Policy and Regulation) |
General Municipal Law, Article 15-c | Yes (BOCES as employer) | |
| 9260 | Conditional Appointment | Education Law §§ 1604(39)(d); 1709(39)(d); 1804(9)(d); 1950(4)(ll); 2503(18)(d); 2554(25)(d) | Yes | |
| 9320 | Drug-Free Workplace | 41 USC §§8101-8106 (Drug-Free Workplace Act) | Required for recipients of direct federal grants. | Yes |
| 9520.6 | Policy on the Rights of Employees to Express Breast Milk in the Workplace | Labor Law §206-c | NYS Department of Labor model policy must be provided to all staff upon hire, annually, and when returning from work after the birth of a child. | Yes (BOCES as employer) |