Town of Tonawanda – Today, Sept. 30, 2025, New York State Assemblyman Bill Conrad joined local Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) leadership and students in celebrating the state’s funding this year of his legislation to increase the salary reimbursement cap for BOCES’ career and technical education (CTE) teachers.

The group gathered at the Ken-Ton Career and Technical Center on Two Mile Creek Road, which is one of four Erie 1 BOCES CTE Centers.

Conrad first introduced the legislation during the 2022 session. And for nearly 20 years prior, the bill was carried by Bronx-based Assembly Member Michael Benedetto, chair of the Assembly Committee on Education, of which Conrad is a member.

This legislation – numbered A.3430 for the 2025 session – was at last successfully incorporated into the 2025-2026 state budget. The budget, which included a $60 million allotment to fund Conrad’s bill to increase the salary cap for BOCES instruction, was adopted by both houses in June and immediately signed into law by Governor Hochul.

New York State reimburses local school districts for a portion of BOCES teacher salaries, but the state cap hadn’t been updated since 1990. In other words, in 1990, the state would have reimbursed a district 60% of a BOCES instructor’s $30,000 salary. That put the reimbursed amount at $18,000, leaving the district to cover the remaining $12,000.

However, adjusting for inflation, that same instructor in 2024 could have been making $60,000. With the reimbursement cap still at $18,000, that put the district’s share at $42,000. Effectively, then, the reimbursement had decreased to just 30% of each BOCES teacher’s pay.

This was making it more difficult for local school districts to afford BOCES services for their students and adding to the burden carried by local taxpayers. Conrad’s bill and its $60 million allocation provides for a $10,000-per-year increase in the instructor reimbursement rate for the next three years, bringing the rate in line with current salaries and reducing the amount BOCES must charge each school district. This reduces the disincentive to school districts to encourage their students’ participation in the career and technical education (CTE) programs run by BOCES. The bill also expanded BOCES eligibility to ninth graders.

The state’s 37 BOCES provide valuable CTE training across New York State. Students attending BOCES graduate at a higher rate – 93% versus the state average of 86%, according to New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) – and are better equipped for college or to enter the workforce.

Indeed, NYSUT was a vocal advocate for Conrad’s bill in the lead up to this year’s budget process, along with many other stakeholder agencies and organizations, including the New York State Education Department, the New York State School Boards Association, the New York State PTA, the Conference of Big 5 School Districts, the School Administrators Association of New York State, the New York State Council of School Superintendents, and the Association of School Business Officials New York.

As NYSUT President Melinda Person wrote at the time of the budget’s passage, “This is a massive win, and one that NYSUT members have been advocating for, for years. This win expands opportunity, addresses workforce shortages, and powers New York’s future.”

The same-as was carried by State Sen. Shelley Mayer of Westchester County. Mayer is chair of the Senate Committee on Education.

Assemblyman Bill Conrad said, “As a former high school teacher, I’ve long been a proponent of BOCES and its CTE programs, so this budget win was especially gratifying for me. This aid will help districts more easily afford kids’ participation in BOCES – and that is our way toward higher graduation rates, a stronger workforce, and a more resilient economy. I see it as the state’s responsibility to carry more of its share and better assist local districts in paying for the BOCES commodities they purchase, including instruction, so we can be preparing more students for 21st-century careers in sectors desperate for skilled workers: manufacturing, construction, nursing, engineering, clean energy development, and more.”

District Superintendent/CEO of Erie 1 BOCES Dr. Michael Capuana said, “We are deeply grateful to our state legislators, including Assemblyman Conrad, for securing this vital funding. As interest in career and technical education continues to rise across Erie County and throughout New York State, this investment ensures that students from all 19 of our partner school districts have equitable access to high-quality programs. This reform is not only timely but also transformational. It directly supports the goals of the NY Inspires initiative by removing barriers for students and families and expanding access to real-world, skills-based learning experiences. Together, we are building a future where every student can graduate ready to lead, innovate, and thrive.”

Math teacher and Erie 1 Professional Education Association President Donna Walters said, “Today is a victory for students, families, and our entire community. Career and technical education programs at Erie 1 BOCES, and all BOCES across the state, open doors to high-demand careers that both change individual lives and strengthen our workforce. For too long, outdated funding formulas made it harder for districts to afford sending students to these life-changing programs. Thanks to Assemblyman Conrad’s leadership, NYSUT’s advocacy, and the partnership of educators, parents, and lawmakers, we are removing that barrier. This investment means more students will graduate ready for college, ready for a career, and ready to power New York’s future.”