New York State Education Department Bureau of School District Organization Subject and Administrative Files

Arranged into two subseries: 1. Subject files, 2. Administrative files

The consolidation of small rural school districts into larger central school districts was first enacted into law in Chapter 55 of the Laws of 1914, which provided for the formation of "Central Rural Schools." The first rural central school district was created in 1924. In 1925, the Cole-Rice Law (Chapter 673 of the Laws of 1925) was enacted, which provided state financial aid for transportation and school construction in order to encourage rural school districts to consolidate. The pace of centralization increased in the 1930's, but the process of centralization was criticized as piecemeal by the Regents' Inquiry into the Character and Cost of Public Education in 1938. In response, the Bureau of Rural Administrative Services was created in 1943 to facilitate the process of school district centralization, and a Master Plan for School District Reorganization was created by the Joint Legislative Committee on the State Education System in 1947. The Bureau of Rural Administrative Services was renamed the Bureau of School District Organization in 1964. By 1959, the number of school districts in New York State had fallen to under 2,000, down from around 10,000 in 1925. Overall, the movement toward centralized school districts was reflective of a national trend towards greater involvement by state governments and state education agencies in the administration and funding of public schools.

The series contains correspondence, memoranda and reports regarding activities of the Bureau of School District Organization in the field and in policy development. Many of the records are related to district superintendents. These include newsletters from the Assistant Commissioner for Educational Administration and Supervision, explaining NYSED policies and activities to district superintendents. Also present is correspondence regarding resignation of district superintendents and its effect on possible reorganization of school districts. The subject files also include correspondence with U.S. Office of Education personnel regarding the USOE's interest in NYSED programs as a model for providing enhanced educational services to rural school districts. Other subjects dealt with in the subject files include state legislation, racial imbalance in school districts, and vocational education. Also included in the series are files documenting the administration of the Bureau of School District Organization, including annual reports, timesheets for staff, and budget requests to the Office of Business Management and Personnel.

14209Series 14209, deals with the creation and oversight of Boards of Cooperative Education Services

B0473Series B0473, deals with the creation and oversight of Boards of Cooperative Education Services

B0474Series B0474, deals with the creation and oversight of Boards of Cooperative Education Services

11120Series 11120, contains reports on studies completed for the Master Plan for School District Reorganization

B0472Series B0472, deals with school district centralization

B0476Series B0476, deals with school district centralization

15672Series 15672, deals with school district centralization

11121 Series 11121, documents the supervision of district superintendents

15671Series 15671, documents the supervision of district superintendents

B0314Series B0314, documents the supervision of district superintendents

B0482Series B0482, documents the supervision of district superintendents.

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