ACADEMICS / PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

The administration hierarchy for Hudson Valley school districts is anchored by county-level associations called BOCES, which stands for Board of Cooperative Educational Services. BOCES function as an extension of local school districts, providing a wide spectrum of instructional and administrative services at the request of local districts. Administered by a superintendent, the BOCES assists and empowers individual school districts by orchestrating the regional sharing of resources. For information on special programs in your local BOCES, contact the appropriate office.

Board of Cooperative Educational Services

Dutchess County BOCES
5 Boces Road
Poughkeepsie 845-486-4800
https://www.dcboces.org

Orange-Ulster BOCES
53 Gibson Road
Goshen 845-291-0110
https://www.ouboces.org

Putnam County-Northern Westchester BOCES
200 Boces Drive
Yorktown Heights 914-245-2700
https://www.pnwboces.org

Rockland County BOCES
65 Parrott Road
West Nyack 845-627-4700
https://www.rocklandboces.org

Southern Westchester County BOCES
17 Berkley Drive
Rye Brook 914-937-3820
https://www.swboces.org

Ulster County BOCES
175 Route 32 North
New Paltz 845-255-1400
https://www.ulsterboces.org

Registration Requirements

Enrollment and transfer requirements for all public school students are as follows: birth certificate, last report card and transcripts from previous schools. Physician-signed immunization proof in the proper doses for DPT, polio, rubella, measles, mumps, hepatitis B, Hib, and varicella is necessary. A tuberculin skin test is also required for new students entering the public school system on the middle level. New students registering in New York for the first time must also have a physical exam including a blood lead test.

The New York State Department of Education mandate for youngsters beginning public school instruction is five years of age by December 31 of the current school year. However, the cut-off deadline may vary with individual school districts. Contact the specific school district where your child will be attending school for detailed information.

A wealth of information about public education in New York is available from the State Education Department. Select from the most appropriate office:

University of the State of New York
State Education Department
Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Continuing Education
Albany 518-474-5915
https://www.p12.nysed.gov

Curriculum & Instructional Support
Albany 518-474-5922
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/commoncore/instructionCCLS-parents-614.htm

Public School Choice Programs
Albany 718-935-2439
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/vision-and-mission/diversity-in-our-schools/school-diversity-advisory-group-recommendations

School Improvement & Community Services
Albany 518-442-5045
https://www.casdany.org/school-improvement

Standards, Assessment & Reporting
Albany 518-474-3852
http://www.nysed.gov/assessments-toolkit

Statewide Standard Testing
Albany 518-474-5902
http://www.nysed.gov/state-assessment

Summer Institutes & New York State School of the Arts
Albany 518-474-8773
http://www.p12.nysed.gov

Adult Education & Workforce Development
Albany 518-474-8940
http://www.highered.nysed.gov

Career & Technical Education
Albany 518-486-1547
http://www.nysed.gov/career-technical-education