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 years, visit 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 2026-2027 Annual Hearings
State law requires DOE to submit a contract for excellence for the 2026-2027 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.
Public Hearings
The public engagement process begins no later than 30 days after the State enacts their budget and must conclude 30 days after it begins. This year, public hearings will begin June 25, 2026.
The deadline for submitting public comment is July 29, 2026.
Borough Hearing Schedule
Hearings will be online via ZOOM.
Registration for each event will be posted prior to the start of the hearings.
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 emails to ContractsForExcellence@schools.nyc.gov. The deadline for submitting public comment is July 29, 2026.
| Date | Borough |
|---|
| Thursday, June 25, 2026 | Bronx |
| Monday, June 29, 2026 | Manhattan |
| Tuesday, June 30, 2026 | Staten Island |
| Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | Queens |
| Thursday, July 2, 2026 | Brooklyn |
District Hearings
Community Education Council (CEC) hearings that present the district-specific C4E information will be held between June 25, 2026 and July 28, 2025.
Comments may be submitted at the hearings or by sending emails to ContractsForExcellence@schools.nyc.gov. The deadline for submitting public comment is July 29, 2026.
District 1:
District 2: July 8, 2026, 6:30-9:30PM, Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007
District 3: July 1, 2026, 6:30-9:30PM, location TBD
District 4:
District 5:
District 6:
District 7:
District 8:
District 9:
District 10:
District 11:
District 12: July 15, 2026, 6:00-8:00PM, I.S. 217 Accion Academy 977 Fox St. Bronx, NY 10459
District 13:
District 14:
District 15: June 30, 2026, 6:30PM, location TBD
District 16:
District 17:
District 18:
District 19: July 8, 2026, 6:00-8:00PM, 577 Pennsylvania Ave. Bklyn NY 11207
District 20: July 8, 2026, 6:00-8:00PM, location TBD
District 21:
District 22: July 7, 2026, 6:30-7:30PM, 5619 Flatlands Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11234
District 23: June 30, 2026; 6:00-7:00PM, District 23 Office: 1784 Park Place, Brooklyn, NY 11233
District 24:
District 25: July 1, 7:00PM, District 25 Office: 30-48 Linden Place, Flushing, NY 11354
District 26:
District 27:
District 28: July 2, 2026, 6:30-8:30PM, District 28 Office: Jamaica, Queens
District 29:
District 30: July 13, 2026, 6:30PM, District 31 Office: 715 Ocean Terrace, Staten Island NY 10301
District 32:
Budget
This preliminary plan is a proposal to solicit public feedback and should not be used for school budgeting purposes.
For the 2026-2027 school year, existing C4E funding will continue to be distributed to schools in the same manner as currently distributed. New C4E funding will be prioritized to support class sizes needs.
Spending restrictions apply to C4E allocations, as described in the FY2026 Contracts for Excellence SAM, available at: School Allocation Memorandum No. 05, FY 2026
Class Size Reduction Plan
The draft SY 2026-27 Class Size Reduction Plan will be posted soon.
The SY 2025-26 plans are linked below: