Contracts for Excellence

The New York City Department of Education receives a portion of its overall budget in the form of Foundation Aid from New York State. While the State allows some of the increase in year-over-year Foundation Aid funding to be used for growth in general operating costs and investment in ongoing programs, the majority is subject to the provisions of the State’s “Contracts for Excellence.” New York City schools received Contracts for Excellence, or C4E, funds for the first time in the 2007-08 school year. These are funds that, under State law, must be distributed to certain schools and must be spent by those schools in specific program areas.

Funds must support specific programs areas. C4E dollars must be spent to support new programs and activities or to expand existing programs and activities in the following six program areas:
- Class Size Reduction;
- Time on Task;
- Teacher and Principal Quality Initiatives;
- Middle School and High School Restructuring;
- Full-Day Pre-Kindergarten; and
- Model Programs for English Language Learners (New in 2008-09).
Funds must go to students with the greatest need. C4E funds must be used to improve the performance of students with the greatest educational need, including:
- English Language Learners (ELLs);
- Students with disabilities;
- Students in poverty; and
- Students performing below State learning standards or students who are at risk of not graduating.
Funds must supplement, not supplant.

This site describes ongoing planning and implementation related to the City’s Contracts for Excellence. It includes:

2013-14
The Governor's 2013-14 Budget states that “school districts that submitted a contract for excellence for the two thousand thirteen – two thousand fourteen school year, unless all schools in the district are identified as in good standing, shall submit a contract for excellence for the two thousand thirteen – two thousand fourteen school year school year”. Funds are to be used to support C4E allowable programs, as approved by the Commissioner. Please note, to date, SED has not issued official guidelines for the use of FY14 funds; therefore this SAM is subject to change when new information is released. Until that time, please follow the guidelines set forth below.

2012-13
The Governor's 2012-13 Budget states that “school districts that submitted a contract for excellence for the two thousand eleven-two thousand twelve school year, unless all schools in the district are identified as in good standing, shall submit a contract for excellence for the two thousand twelve--two thousand thirteen school year”. Funds are to be used to support C4E allowable programs, as approved by the Commissioner.

2012-13
Proposed Citywide Plan: Details of the City's plan for proposed use of 2012-13 C4E dollars.

Public Comment (Updated with Assessment 5.9.13)

2011-12
The Governor's 2011-12 Approved Budget states that “school districts that submitted a contract for excellence for the two thousand nine--two thousand ten school year, unless all schools in the district are identified as in good standing, shall submit a contract for excellence for the two thousand eleven--two thousand twelve school year”. In addition, districts are required to reduce the C4E amounts by the “gap elimination adjustment, which for New York City is 17.53%. New York City is allowed to take this reduction from Maintenance of Effort funds established in year 1 of C4E.

See FY12 NYSED C4E amounts here: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/mgtserv/C4E/11-12home.html

2011-12
Proposed Citywide Plan: Details of the City's plan for proposed use of 2011-12 C4E dollars.

Public Comment (completed as of 12.2.11): Calendar of public hearings to be held in conjunction with the 2011-12 C4E process as well as information about how to submit a comment. Will be updated as more dates and locations are confirmed

2010-11
Proposed Citywide Plan: Details of the City's plan for proposed use of 2010-11 C4E dollars. * Please note: Education Law § 211-d did not require the NYC DOE to file a Contract for Excellence for the 2010-11 school year, as the legislation expired prior to this academic year. Although the NYC DOE presented a preliminary budget and conducted a public comment period for C4E allocations in the 2010-11 school year, this was in anticipation of the legislation being extended. The Governor has restored C4E in his budget proposal for 2011-12. The NYC DOE will implement C4E for school year 2011-12.

Public Comment Closed: Calendar of public hearings to be held in conjunction with the 2010-11 C4E process as well as information about how to submit a comment. Will be updated as more dates and locations are confirmed.

2009-10
Approved 09-10 Plan: New York City’s approved Year Three Contracts plan.

2009-10 Proposed Citywide Plan: Details of the City’s complete proposed plan for use of 2009-10 Contracts funds.

2009-10 Public Comment (completed): Calendar and transcripts of all public hearings held in conjunction with the 2009-10 C4E plan as well as an assessment of the public engagement process.

2008-09
Approved 2008-09 Plan: New York City’s approved Year Two Contracts plan.

2008-09 Proposed Citywide Plan: Details of the City’s complete proposed plan for use of 2008-09 Contracts funds.

2007-08
Approved 2007-08 Plan: New York City’s approved Year One Contracts plan.

General
Program Options: Description of program areas in which Contracts dollars may be spent.

Class Size Reduction: Class size reduction plan and description of ongoing class size reduction efforts.

Complaint Procedures: Process for filing complaints about programs or services funded by the Contracts for Excellence.

About Us Leadership Pathways About Our Schools Frequently Asked Questions Funding Our Schools DOE Overview School Budget Overview Fair Student Funding Detail Contracts for Excellence Data About Schools DOE Leadership News About NYC Schools Academics Choices & Enrollment Schools in the Community Offices & Programs Rules & Policies Student Support, Safety & Activities Performance & Accountability	Contracts for Excellence The New York City Department of Education receives a portion of its overall budget in the form of Foundation Aid from New York State. While the State allows some of the increase in year-over-year Foundation Aid funding to be used for growth in general operating costs and investment in ongoing programs, the majority is subject to the provisions of the State’s “Contracts for Excellence.” New York City schools received Contracts for Excellence, or C4E, funds for the first time in the 2007-08 school year. These are funds that, under State law, must be distributed to certain schools and must be spent by those schools in specific program areas. Funds must support specific programs areas. C4E dollars must be spent to support new programs and activities or to expand existing programs and activities in the following six program areas: Class Size Reduction; Time on Task; Teacher and Principal Quality Initiatives; Middle School and High School Restructuring; Full-Day Pre-Kindergarten; and Model Programs for English Language Learners (New in 2008-09). Funds must go to students with the greatest need. C4E funds must be used to improve the performance of students with the greatest educational need, including: English Language Learners (ELLs); Students with disabilities; Students in poverty; and Students performing below State learning standards or students who are at risk of not graduating. Funds must supplement, not supplant. This site describes ongoing planning and implementation related to the City’s Contracts for Excellence. It includes: 2013-14 The Governor's 2013-14 Budget states that “school districts that submitted a contract for excellence for the two thousand thirteen – two thousand fourteen school year, unless all schools in the district are identified as in good standing, shall submit a contract for excellence for the two thousand thirteen – two thousand fourteen school year school year”. Funds are to be used to support C4E allowable programs, as approved by the Commissioner. Please note, to date, SED has not issued official guidelines for the use of FY14 funds; therefore this SAM is subject to change when new information is released. Until that time, please follow the guidelines set forth below. 2012-13 The Governor's 2012-13 Budget states that “school districts that submitted a contract for excellence for the two thousand eleven-two thousand twelve school year, unless all schools in the district are identified as in good standing, shall submit a contract for excellence for the two thousand twelve--two thousand thirteen school year”. Funds are to be used to support C4E allowable programs, as approved by the Commissioner. 2012-13 Proposed Citywide Plan: Details of the City's plan for proposed use of 2012-13 C4E dollars. Public Comment (Updated with Assessment 5.9.13) 2011-12 The Governor's 2011-12 Approved Budget states that “school districts that submitted a contract for excellence for the two thousand nine--two thousand ten school year, unless all schools in the district are identified as in good standing, shall submit a contract for excellence for the two thousand eleven--two thousand twelve school year”. In addition, districts are required to reduce the C4E amounts by the “gap elimination adjustment, which for New York City is 17.53%. New York City is allowed to take this reduction from Maintenance of Effort funds established in year 1 of C4E. See FY12 NYSED C4E amounts here: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/mgtserv/C4E/11-12home.html 2011-12 Proposed Citywide Plan: Details of the City's plan for proposed use of 2011-12 C4E dollars. Public Comment (completed as of 12.2.11): Calendar of public hearings to be held in conjunction with the 2011-12 C4E process as well as information about how to submit a comment. Will be updated as more dates and locations are confirmed 2010-11 Proposed Citywide Plan: Details of the City's plan for proposed use of 2010-11 C4E dollars. * Please note: Education Law § 211-d did not require the NYC DOE to file a Contract for Excellence for the 2010-11 school year, as the legislation expired prior to this academic year. Although the NYC DOE presented a preliminary budget and conducted a public comment period for C4E allocations in the 2010-11 school year, this was in anticipation of the legislation being extended. The Governor has restored C4E in his budget proposal for 2011-12. The NYC DOE will implement C4E for school year 2011-12. Public Comment Closed: Calendar of public hearings to be held in conjunction with the 2010-11 C4E process as well as information about how to submit a comment. Will be updated as more dates and locations are confirmed. 2009-10 Approved 09-10 Plan: New York City’s approved Year Three Contracts plan. 2009-10 Proposed Citywide Plan: Details of the City’s complete proposed plan for use of 2009-10 Contracts funds. 2009-10 Public Comment (completed): Calendar and transcripts of all public hearings held in conjunction with the 2009-10 C4E plan as well as an assessment of the public engagement process. 2008-09 Approved 2008-09 Plan: New York City’s approved Year Two Contracts plan. 2008-09 Proposed Citywide Plan: Details of the City’s complete proposed plan for use of 2008-09 Contracts funds. 2007-08 Approved 2007-08 Plan: New York City’s approved Year One Contracts plan. General Program Options: Description of program areas in which Contracts dollars may be spent. Class Size Reduction: Class size reduction plan and description of ongoing class size reduction efforts. Complaint Procedures: Process for filing complaints about programs or services funded by the Contracts for Excellence.