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NYSED Regionalization Initiative

In September 2024, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) issued guidance for our District to fill out a survey as a first step. The intention of the survey is for NYSED to identify opportunities for collaboration that might result in cost-saving efficiencies or greater educational opportunities for students in our region. The deadline for the completion of the survey is December 6, 2024, and Smithtown is currently preparing its responses. School district officials will attend meetings to explore potential regional collaborations beginning sometime after November 1, 2024. Each region will ultimately develop a plan that is due by October 2025 with an interim report due in April of 2025. 

 has created  with details about their initiative. 

As new information becomes available, we will update this page. See below for the latest updates. 
 

• October 16, 2024 - Extension of Deadline for the Regionalization survey
  • Important quote: "Some have encouraged the Department to rename the initiative, noting that the term “regionalization” can be interpreted by some as a mandate to merge programs/districts. NYSED has been clear in every presentation and in all related literature, that this is not the case."
• October 25, 2024 - Letter to Superintendents from Nassau, Western Suffolk, and Eastern Suffolk BOCES
  • Important quote: "This communication is necessary in light of recent social media posts and flyers suggesting that the goal of the initiative is to cede control of Long Island’s schools to the BOCES. That is patently false and would require the adoption of legislation radically changing over one hundred years of law."
• October 25, 2024 - District Letter to the SCSD Community regarding Regionalization
• November 1, 2024 - SCSD Follow Up Community Letter re Regionalization
• November 6, 2024 -
• November 20, 2024 - SCSD Letter to NYSED regarding Regionalization Initiative
• November 26, 2024 - NYSED Commissioner Letter on Regionalization