Chautauqua Lake Central School students are pictured on a recent tour of the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Hewes Educational Center for a Taste of Tech experience. Photo courtesy BOCES Facebook Page

Sen. Edward Rath III of Buffalo wants to see more investment in BOCES programs throughout the state.

Rath, a Williamsville Republican, has introduced the Build Back BOCES Act (S.9396) to create more incentives for BOCES programs and resources to increase the number of skilled trades graduates in New York.

“Having a highly trained and qualified workforce is integral for growing the economy in New York state,” Rath wrote in his legislative justification. “From construction trades to healthcare to automotive careers, employers across the state are seeking work-ready applicants in skilled trades jobs. Unfortunately, many of these employers struggle to find suitable candidates to fill these positions. Despite the budding opportunities, New York is not doing enough to produce students ready to enter the workforce upon graduating from high school. Not only is this lack of work-ready graduates a deterrent for students looking to start their respective careers, but it also serves as a barrier for businesses seeking to enter New York state.”

The Build Back BOCES Act would increase BOCES instructor compensation to $45,000 or the average teacher salary in the respective school district, whichever is lower, which also setting a 2030 pay increase to at least $60,000. Increasing the reimbursement for BOCES instructors was one of BOCES’ requests during testimony in front of joint legislative budget committees earlier this year, with Dan White, district superintendent of the Monroe 1 BOCES, saying salaries for CTE teachers average $67,000 statewide. The existing $30,000 state reimbursement means individual school districts have to choose either increasing their BOCES commitment every year or limit their students’ access to BOCES programs. White asked for a three-year phase-in of BOCES salary reimbursement to $60,000, while Rath proposes a seven-year increase to the $60,000 reimbursement.

“The Build Back BOCES Act represents a direct solution to the challenges faced by school districts across New York seeking to provide students with an adequate education in a skilled trade,” Rath wrote in his legislative justification. “Components of the bill include increased instructor pay, a more robust system of reporting for hiring data, and a pilot program to introduce new incentive measures. By increasing the earnings cap for BOCES instructors from $30,000 to up to $60,000, districts will be able to attract instructors from a broader range of technical fields. Enhancing reporting on graduate hiring practices will allow the state and school districts alike to adapt more quickly to changing labor needs. Finally, the BOCES Enhanced Pipeline pilot program offers districts a financial incentive to produce the highest rate of workforce-ready graduates. Through the Build Back BOCES Act, employers and students across New York will have renewed access to skilled trade opportunities for the betterment of the entire New York economy.”

Rath also proposes creating a BOCES Enhanced Pipeline pilot program starting in the 2025-26 school year rewarding 20 school districts with the most former students enrolled in BOCES or CTE programs who obtained full- or part-time work in a qualifying field within one year of graduation. Those districts would receive an increase in BOCES funding for the next school year.

Rath said too few BOCES (30% in 2021) are entering the workforce straight from high school. Creating a financial incentive for school districts and BOCES to send more graduates into the workforce could improve programs.

“This low rate reflects a lack of prioritization by the state for BOCES and career and technical education (CTE) programming,” Rath wrote. “Some of the elements contributing to the work-ready obstacles are low pay for BOCES instructors, a lack of comprehensive data on hiring barriers, and a lack of incentives for districts to produce a skilled workforce. This legislation enacts the Build Back BOCES Act to address these barriers and reinvigorate New York’s skilled trade labor market.”