Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today invited parents, educators, and other New Yorkers to comment on the City’s preliminary plan for 2009-2010 Contracts for Excellence funding. New York City will not be receiving any additional Contracts for Excellence funding during the 2009-10 school year because New York State is holding foundation aid level with 2008-09 support due to the severe decline in revenue. Accordingly, the Department of Education’s proposed 2009-10 plan does not include new or expanded programs but rather represents a “maintenance of effort” in continued support for programs funded under the approved 2008-2009 plan.
Under State law, Contract for Excellence funds must be distributed to schools to benefit students with the greatest educational needs as defined by New York State and must also be spent in six specific 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. Information about the City’s preliminary Contracts plan is posted on the Department’s Web site. All proposed allocations described in this plan are preliminary and contingent on further analysis of school-based conditions.
This year, the Department of Education invited the City’s 32 Community Education Councils (CECs) to host the Contracts hearings, an arrangement that will further encourage parental and community involvement. During CEC meetings, parents, educators, and other New Yorkers will have the opportunity to comment on the City’s preliminary plan. The DOE will use the feedback in refining its final Contracts for Excellence plan. A schedule of upcoming CEC meetings is posted on the Department’s Web site. Additional dates will continue to be added to this calendar, so please check this site regularly for updated information.
The deadline for comment is October 8. The public may comment on any aspect of the plan, including:
- How schools are planning to spend their discretionary funds within the six allowable programs areas;
- How the DOE is allocating targeted Contracts funds to schools;
- How the DOE is allocating funds for school support services;
- The Class Size Reduction plan;
- And the public comment process itself.
New Yorkers can also comment on the plan by sending e-mails to
ContractsForExcellence@schools.nyc.gov.