Contracts for Excellence

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

  1. 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).
  2. 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 2023-2024 Annual Hearings

State law requires DOE to submit a contract for excellence for the 2023-2024 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 and 2023, DOE’s contract for excellence must also include a plan to reduce class sizes, beginning in September 2023. DOE must submit the proposed plan for State approval 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 is 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 August 21, 2023. 

  • Staten Island – Online via ZOOM : Friday, June 2, 2023

  • Queens – Online via ZOOM : Tuesday, June 6, 2023

  • Brooklyn – Online via ZOOM : Thursday, June 8, 2023

  • Manhattan – Online via ZOOM : Tuesday, June 13, 2023

  • Bronx – Online via ZOOM : Thursday, June 15th, 2023

Budget 

For a description of (1) the planned allocation of C4E funding to schools, see the FY23 Contracts for Excellence School Allocation Memorandum (SAM) and (2) the plan for allocation of the additional FY2024 C4E funding, see the FY2024 Planned Allocation of Funding Above the FY2023 C4E Amount.

FY2023-24 Contracts for Excellence Plan Form School and Program Allocation

Class Size Reduction Plan

This plan was posted prior to contracts for excellence borough and CEC hearings:

May Posting: Class Size Reduction Plan

This plan was posted for the public comment period that closes on August 21st:

July Posting: Class Size Reduction Plan

2023-24 Contract for Excellence Public Comments

Assessment of 2023-24 Contract for Excellence Public Comments can be found HERE

2023-24 Contract for Excellence Public Comments can be found HERE

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 June 2, 2023 and June 30, 2023. 

Comments may be submitted at the hearings or by sending e-mails to ContractsForExcellence@schools.nyc.gov. The deadline for submitting public comment is August 11, 2023. 

  • District 1 – June 15, 2023, 5:30pm, P.S. 20 Anna Silver School 166 Essex Street Auditorium NY, NY 10002

  • District 2 – June 13, 2023, 6:30pm, Online via ZOOM 

  • District 3 – June 14, 2023, 6:30pm, P.S. 149 - 41 W. 117th St., Manhattan, NY 10026

  • District 4 – June 21, 2023, 4:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 5 – June 21, 2023, 6:30pm, PS 36 Unit 2 Conference Room 232 NYC, NY 10027

  • District 6 – June 15, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 7 – June 6, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM or 677 EAST 141 ST, Bronx NY 10454

  • District 8 – June 21, 2023, Online via ZOOM

  • District 9 – June 13, 2023, 5:30pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 10 – June 20,2023, 6:00pm, 1 Fordham Plaza; Room 838 Bronx, NY 10457

  • District 11 – June 13, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 12 – June 7, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 13 – June 20, 2023, 7:00pm, ZOOM link to come

  • District 14 – June 7, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 15 – June 13, 2023, 6:30pm, PS. 32, 420 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

  • District 16 – June 12, 2023, Online via ZOOM

  • District 17 – June 20, 2023, Online via ZOOM

  • District 18 – June 5, 2023, 7:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 19 – June 14, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 20 – June 14, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM or In-person at P.S. 170 The Ralph A. Fabrizio School 619 72nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11209

  • District 21 – June 14, 2023, Online via ZOOM or In-Person at David A. Boody (I.S. 228) 228 Avenue S Brooklyn, NY 11223

  • District 22 – June 6, 2023, 6:30pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 23 – June 5, 2023, 6:30pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 24 – June 13, 2023, Online via ZOOM

  • District 25 – June 13, 2023, 6:30pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 26 –June 15, 2023, 7:00pm Online via ZOOM

  • District 27 – June 26, 2023, Online via ZOOM

  • District 28 – June 22, 2023, 5:30pm, ZOOM Link to Come

  • District 29 – June 15, 2023, 7:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  •  District 30 –June 12, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 31 – June 5, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  • District 32 – June 15, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM

  • CCHS – June 14, 2023, 6:00pm, Online via ZOOM