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How BOCES works: a 3D tour
Turn a BOCES region in 3D, watch a short explainer, try the money with made-up numbers, then take the quiz. Goal: 100%.
A BOCES region in 3D
Drag to turn the model. Tap a step to see what happens. Our own drawing: the buildings are not real places.
3D is not available on this device. Here is the same idea in words: six school districts sit around one BOCES. They share services the BOCES runs. Each district pays its share this year, and the state sends BOCES aid back the next year. A career and technical education (CTE) center serves high school students from many districts. The Big 5 city districts are not BOCES members.
Motion explainer: one shared service, start to finish
Captions are always on. With calm mode or reduced motion, each scene shows its final picture without moving.
Who pays what? Try it (made-up numbers)
Every CoSer must state a basis for charge: how the cost is split. NYSED's handbook lists per pupil or unit, percent of use, RWADA (based on student attendance) and FTE (staff time). Pick one and move the slider.
A shared service costs $90,000. District A has 1,000 students, B has 2,000 and C has 3,000. A uses 50% of the service, B 30% and C 20%.
"By attendance" is a simple stand-in with made-up weighted attendance; real RWADA uses figures from the state. Real aid ratios come from the state formula, which takes each district's financial resources into account. Ask your business office for real numbers.
The CoSer year, month by month
- October 1Proposals for brand-new kinds of service (without approved criteria) are due to NYSED for the next year.
- December 15NYSED sends BOCES preliminary approval documents to review.
- By JanuaryDistricts tell their BOCES which services they may need next school year.
- February 1BOCES returns the preliminary approval document and files new services.
- AprilDistricts decide whether to buy each service. The annual BOCES meeting, where board members are elected, is held in April.
- May 1BOCES asks districts for a firm commitment.
- July 1The new school year starts (by law it runs July 1 to June 30). BOCES delivers the services.
- The next yearBOCES aid is claimed as a reimbursement the year after the service.
Dates from NYSED's BOCES Handbook 1 and BOCES primer. Each BOCES sets its own internal deadlines; check its services guide.
Inside a CTE center
Many BOCES run career and technical education (CTE) centers. High school students from many districts come for part of the school day. In the 3D model, tap CTE center tour.
🎓 Technical endorsement
To earn it, a student completes a NYSED-approved CTE program of study, passes at least 3.5 CTE credits and passes a three-part technical assessment: written, demonstration and project.
🛠️ Work-based learning
NYSED-approved programs make work-based learning available to students. Programs that receive federal Perkins money must provide at least 54 hours of work-based learning experiences.
📅 Program approval
A NYSED CTE program approval is valid for up to five years. Each BOCES lists its own programs; see BOCES for students.
Quick quiz · Goal: 100%
Sources
If this page and an official page disagree, the official page wins. All checked Nov 9, 2026.
- NYSED, BOCES Handbook 1 (new service proposals due October 1; each service approved for one year; shared basis; 60 percent; basis for charge; calendar of dates): p12.nysed.gov/mgtserv/boces/handbooks/Handbook1.htm (checked Nov 9, 2026)
- NYSED, BOCES primer (needs by January; firm commitment by May 1; annual meeting in April; aid formula considers financial resources; cost charged is the basis for BOCES aid): p12.nysed.gov/mgtserv/boces/primer.html (checked Nov 9, 2026)
- NYSED, BOCES service delivery (districts decide in April; two or more districts; no one district over 60 percent; BOCES cannot tax): p12.nysed.gov/mgtserv/boces/aid/servicedelivery.html (checked Nov 9, 2026)
- NYSED, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (37 BOCES; Big 5 not members): p12.nysed.gov/mgtserv/boces (checked Nov 8, 2026, by the BOCES page team)
- BOCES of NYS, Shared Services (services created when two or more districts have similar needs; aid the next year; unspent money returned): boces.org/shared-services (checked Nov 9, 2026)
- NY Education Law §2(15) (school year runs July 1 to June 30): nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EDN/2 (checked Nov 9, 2026)
- NYSED, Technical Endorsement (3.5 CTE credits; three-part technical assessment; work-based learning; Perkins 54 hours): nysed.gov/career-technical-education/technical-endorsement (checked Nov 9, 2026)
- NYSED, CTE Program Approval FAQ (approval valid for up to five years): nysed.gov/career-technical-education/cte-program-approval-faq (checked Nov 9, 2026)