NY A04446

Allows two or more school districts within the same BOCES supervisory district to form a regional high school by contract, limited to counties with populations between 134,903 and 134,907 according to the 2020 census

Contracts must be for at least two school years, approved by the Commissioner of Education (not voters), and specify whether the regional high school will be operated by a hosting school district or by BOCES

Students remain enrolled in their home districts for state aid purposes and receive diplomas from their home districts, but participate in extracurricular activities and athletics only through the regional high school

Employees of participating districts whose positions are eliminated transfer to the hosting district or BOCES with tenure status, seniority, and sick leave preserved; displaced staff are placed on preferred eligibility lists for up to seven years

Participating districts qualify for additional state aid under Education Law §3602(14), with transportation costs funded the same as regular pupil transportation