About Us

Questar III BOCES delivers more than 275 educational and administrative services to 22 school districts in Rensselaer, Columbia, and Greene counties. Questar III also provides statewide services to more than 670 school districts and BOCES in New York.

 

What is a BOCES?

There are 37 BOCES, or Board of Cooperative Educational Services, in New York State. The State Legislature created BOCES in 1948 to provide shared educational programs and services. Together they serve all but nine of the state’s 721 school districts. Learn about BOCES statewide

Founded separately in the 1950s and 1960s, the BOCES merged to become Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene BOCES in 1977. It later adopted the name Questar III in 1994, emphasizing its cooperative leadership in excellence and innovation.

 

How does it work?

BOCES services are created when 2 or more districts have similar needs that can be met by sharing staff members, classroom/office space, equipment, time or expertise.

Like public school systems, BOCES are governed by a policy-making board of education. The 11 members of the Questar III board serve 3-year terms and are elected by component boards from Rensselaer, Columbia, and Greene counties through a special vote held each April. Learn more about the board

 

What services do you provide?

Questar III educates approximately 1,600 students in various programs including career and technical education (CTE), New Visions, pre-K and special education. It also provides affordable management and administrative services ranging from grant writing to financial planning.

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