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 2025-2026 Annual Hearings

State law requires DOE to submit a contract for excellence for the 2025-2026 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 July 8, 2024.

 

Budget 

This preliminary plan is a proposal to solicit public feedback and should not be used for school budgeting purposes.  

For the 2025-26 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. 

Spending restrictions, as described in the FY25 Contracts for Excellence SAM (https://www.nycenet.edu/offices/finance_schools/budget/DSBPO/allocationmemo/fy24_25/fy25_docs/fy2025_sam005.htm ), apply. 

For a description of the plan for allocation of the additional FY2026 C4E funding, see the FY2026 Planned Allocation of Funding Above the FY2023 C4E Amount. 

Class Size Reduction Plan

2025-2026 Class Size Reduction Plans will be posted here.

Class Size Reduction Plan Public Comments will also be found here when available.

2025-26 Contract for Excellence Building Plan

2025-26 Contract for Excellence School Building Plan will be found here. 

2025-26 Contract for Excellence Public Comments

2025-26 Contract for Excellence Public Comments will be found here. 

2025-26 Contract for Excellence Narrative

2025-26 Contract for Excellence Narrative will 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 4, 2025 and July 7, 2025.  

Comments may be submitted at the hearings or by sending e-mails to ContractsForExcellence@schools.nyc.gov. The deadline for submitting public comment is July 8, 2025.  

 

Class Size Working Group

In February 2023, the Chancellor announced that NYC Public Schools would be convening a Class Size Working Group to gather input related to implementing Chapter 556 of the Laws of 2022, which mandates smaller class sizes in the New York City school district.

NYC Public Schools will be looking to build a working group of diverse perspectives and experiences from across New York City, taking into account individuals’ geographic representation, experience as a parent or guardian of a NYC Public School student, educator, advocate, researcher or other stakeholder, while also considering individuals representing different school levels and sizes as well as organizational affiliations.

In late February 2023, NYC Public Schools launched a survey for individuals to express interest in participating in the working group and selected the following members to participate.

Class Size Working Group: Final Report

The Class Size Working Group Final Report can be found HERE

Additional Materials - Minority Report

Class Size Working Group: Public Engagement Sessions, October 2023

Join the Class Size Working Group to learn more about their proposals for reducing class sizes, as NYC Public Schools plans to implement the state’s new class size law. Attending an engagement session is your opportunity to provide feedback to the Working Group as they finalize recommendations.

Translations for flyer on engagement sessions can be found below:

Three sessions were held. Recordings to the sessions are linked below:

09/26/23 5:00-7:00pm

09/27/23 5:00-7:00pm

10/02/23 5:00-7:00pm

Proposed Recommendations:

Preliminary proposed recommendations can be found HERE

Translations:

Member List

Members of the working group were selected with the intention to build a working group of diverse perspectives and experiences from across New York City, taking into account individuals’ geographic representation, experience as a parent or guardian of a NYC Public School student, educator, advocate, researcher or other stakeholder, while also considering individuals representing different school levels and sizes as well as organizational affiliations.

Class Size Working Group Member List

Meeting Dates

 

For any specific questions you may have about the Class Size working group, please reach out directly to ClassSize@schools.nyc.gov.