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Collective Value

There are 12 Regional Information Centers (RICs) in New York state, which are organized under the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).  RICs offer 21st-century classroom tools to optimize student achievement. Each RIC offers different services from one another and may support different products or vendors for these services. Collaboration on service and software contracts occurs regularly in the following areas:

  • Administrative systems
  • Data analysis, integration and verification
  • Integration of technology
  • Technical support

Typically, a RIC serves several BOCES within their region.  The Monroe RIC provides services to its 19 component school districts and two BOCES.  These services support the administrative and technical functions of each participating organization.  By regionalizing services, the RICs make a wider range of technology services available to school districts, no matter the size of the district. These relationships increase the buying power of a district and promote consistent technical standards.

RIC Highlights

  • The RICs collectively support more than 95 percent of public school districts in effectively utilizing student management systems.
     
  • The RICs partner with each other to support disaster recovery and business continuity initiatives.
     
  • The RICs negotiate many contracts cooperatively in order to maximize efficiencies and economies of scale.
     
  • All of the RICs assist providers in obtaining Medicaid reimbursement for eligible services through contracts awarded by NYSED.
     
  • The RICs offer a statewide catalog of professional development offerings.