Update:

• April 9 memo on Contract for Excellence:  PDF

See also:

• April 4 memo and related materials: PDF

For more information:

• http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/mgtserv/C4E/home.shtml

In an April 4, 2007 memo to school superintendents, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Education Johanna Duncan-Poitier writes:

"The centerpiece of the State Aid budget provisions is a Foundation Aid formula for general purpose operating aid as well as the introduction of Contracts for Excellence...

"To ensure accountability for the historic investment in education, school districts that have at least one school currently identified as: requiring academic progress, in need of improvement, in corrective action, or in restructuring status and that receives an annual increase in Foundation Aid which is at least either 10 percent or $15 million, or receives a supplemental educational improvement plan grant, will be required to enter into a Contract for Excellence with the State that will govern how new funds are used.  A list of the districts (outside of NYC) that meet these criteria and therefore have to prepare Contracts for Excellence is provided in Attachment A.  

"School districts that do not meet the above criteria are not required to file Contracts and may use their Foundation Aid as unrestricted general purpose operating aid. For districts that do have to file Contracts for Excellence, three percent of the additional Foundation Aid may be used as unrestricted general purpose operating aid."

The complete memo and related materials are available here for download.

• April 9 memo on Contract for Excellence:  PDF
• April 4 memo and related materials: PDF

This document includes a chart, compiled by NYSUT, of:

• Schools in Need of Improvement
• Schools Requiring Academic Progress
• Possible Districts that must adhere to the Contract for Excellence Requirements

For more information, please visit the New York State Education Department Web site at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/mgtserv/C4E/home.shtml