GREATER AMSTERDAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
What is a Contract for Excellence?

New York State's Contract for Excellence program was created prior to the 2007-08 school year. School districts in the C4E program must use a portion of their state funding to create and/or develop programs designed to raise achievement of the neediest students.

C4E school districts must:

• Target fiscal resources to serve neediest students

• Implement programs which are research based to support student success

• Measure performance gains

Districts are subject to C4E restrictions on new state Foundation Aid* if:

• Foundation Aid increased 10 percent in 2007-08 or 2008-09, and/or

• Foundation Aid increased 20 percent over both years, or

• Foundation Aid increased $15 million in a single year, and

• They already have a school designated as a School in Need of Improvement

What programs can C4E funding be used for?

• Research based programs demonstrated to improve student achievement

• Class size reduction

• Additional instructional time or "Time on Task"

• Middle School/High School Restructuring

• Teacher/Principal Quality Initiatives (i.e, professional development programs)

• Full-day kindergarten or prekindergarten

• Model programs for English Language Learners (ELLs)

• Experimental programs

* Foundation Aid is the Education Department's term for money provided to school districts for instructional purposes. The amount of Foundation Aid school districts receive is essentially based upon enrollment, but is adjusted to account for regional costs and other considerations. Foundation Aid cannot be used to pay for expense-driven costs, such as construction, transportation, BOCES or other special service aid, special education, universal pre-kindergarten and other items.