The NYC Department of Education receives some of its annual budget from the NY State Foundation Aid program. Every year, the State allows some of the additional aid to be used for growth in general operating costs and investment in ongoing programs. However, some of the funding must be used according to the State’s “Contracts for Excellence” law. New York City schools received Contracts for Excellence (C4E) funds for the first time in the 2007–2008 school year. These funds under State law must be given to certain schools and must be spent by those schools in specific program areas.
To see all the Contract for Excellence information, including from past year, on the Info Hub.
How it Works
- 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. Funding is intended to provide additional educational resources.
Contract for Excellence 2024-2025 Annual Hearings
State law requires DOE to submit a contract for excellence for the 2024-2025 school year. The contract for excellence provides information on how certain State aid will be used for designated activities that are designed to improve student achievement, with a focus on students with the greatest educational need.
The contract for excellence must be developed through a public process, which must include a public hearing held within each New York City county. In addition, public meetings must be held in each community district related to district-specific contracts.
Under amendments to State law made in 2022, 2023, and 2024, DOE’s contract for excellence must also include a plan to reduce class sizes, beginning in September 2023. DOE must submit the draft contract to the State for preliminary review within two weeks following the completion of the public process, after analyzing public comments received about the proposed plan.
Borough Hearing Schedule
Hearings will be online via ZOOM.
Registration for each event will be posted HERE.
The virtual meeting room will be open one hour before the start of the meeting to allow members of the public to sign up for public comment.
Scheduled Start Time is 6:00pm.
Comments may be submitted at the hearings or by sending e-mails to ContractsForExcellence@schools.nyc.gov. The deadline for submitting public comment is June 24, 2024.
Bronx - May 22, 2024
Manhattan - May 23, 2024
Staten Island - May 28, 2024
Queens - May 29, 2024
Brooklyn - May 30, 2024
Budget
This preliminary plan is a proposal to solicit public feedback and should not be used for school budgeting purposes.
For the 2024-25 school year, as required, additional C4E funding will be distributed to schools pursuant to the state's requirements that 75% of C4E funding be allocated to the top 50% of neediest schools based upon needs weights issued by NYSED.
Existing C4E funding will continue to be distributed to schools based solely on needs weights, and new C4E funding will be distributed to schools based partially on selected criteria for class size reduction, in alignment with the new State-mandated class size caps.
Spending restrictions, as described in the FY24 Contracts for Excellence SAM (https://www.nycenet.edu/offices/finance_schools/budget/DSBPO/allocationmemo/fy23_24/fy24_docs/fy2024_sam005.htm), apply.
Class Size Reduction Plan
2024-25 Contract for Excellence Public Comments
2024-25 Contract for Excellence Public Comments will be found HERE when available
District Hearings
District Hearing Schedule
Community Education Council (CEC) hearings that present the district-specific C4E information will be held during June. CECs must hold their meetings between May 22, 2024 and June 20, 2024.
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
CCHS