The state of New York will continue funding a local school for disabled youths despite finding `` skin shocks'' -- some times administered while stu dents bathed -- for offenses as minor as nagging, swearing and sloppy appearance, the school reported Monday.

The decision in a state Edu cation Department letter dated Friday means the state won't interrupt the $50 million a year in funding it provides to the Judge Rotenberg Center until its review is complete.

The school, based in Canton cares for about 150 autistic and disabled children from New York at group homes in the Attleboro area. The center is named for the late Judge Ernest Rotenberg whose court decisions allowed the agency to use its controversial `` aversive therapy'' program, which includes the skin shocks.

New York Education Department spokesman Tom Dunn said the state is review ing the data provided by the school. The state's order last week to stop using some meth ods still stands, but the state will now postpone action until the review is complete.

The school is one of many the state employs to provide intensive services for disabled New Yorkers when there are no open spots for them in New York state facilities. But only Rotenberg uses shock therapy. In the letter released by the school, New York officials wrote that there will be a continuing review of reported injuries to students.

`` The department will take no action regarding your agency's eligibility for approval from the commissioner to receive public funds for the education of students with disabilities until our review is completed,'' according to the state's letter.

The school's attorney, Michael Flammia, said the state's findings weren't confirmed and that the educational and psychological experts sent to investigate the school were biased against shock therapy.

The New York Board of Regents was expected to consider action Monday that would prohibit use of automatic shocks -- for getting out of a seat, for example -- and for shocks administered while a student is restrained, said Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Cort. `` Skin shocks,'' however, could continue at Rotenberg pending the state's review, she said.

`` The `findings' and `reports' constitute nothing more than uninvestigated claims by team members who intentionally ignored, and refused to consider when offered, the mountain of evidence demonstrating that there is no clear and present danger and that the treatment plans for the New York students are extremely effective and safe,'' the school's attorney wrote to the state.

Most families that send the children to the school support the limited use of shock therapy, which isn't used in New York state. Parents and students say the shocks, similar to bee stings that last a couple seconds in sessions once a week, have been more effective than medication for students.

New York's review team made an unannounced visit to the school in the spring after complaints and a lawsuit by a parent.

The state of New York told the school last week it must `` cease certain interventions that threaten the health and safety of students at the school. Failure to do so would affect its approval to serve New York state students.''

The New York review team criticized the school's `` combined use of mechanical restraints and simultaneous application of skin shock'' to some students. In addition, `` many students were observed as they arrived to and from school wearing leg and wrist restraints.''