New York (State). Education Dept. Bureau of Apportionment.

The formation of union free schools, public secondary schools supported solely by local taxes and state financial aid, was authorized in 1853 (Chapter 433). In 1917 the Township School Law (Chapter 328) transferred the duties of school district trustees and boards of education (except union free school districts having populations over 1500 and school districts in towns adjoining cities of one million or more inhabitants) to newly created town boards of education.

The Township School Law was repealed in 1918 (Chapter 199) and all pre-existing school districts restored. School commissioners (district superintendents after 1912) were authorized to issue orders consolidating school districts in the first consolidated Education Law in 1909 (Chapter 21) as generally amended in 1910 (Chapter 410). Legislation authorizing the establishment of "central rural schools" was adopted in 1914 (Chapter 55), but only one centralization occurred before 1925 when the legislation authorized additional financial aid for these districts (Chapter 674). The establishment of central high schools was authorized in 1917 (Chapter 137).

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