Ed Management Services

Contracts for Excellence Program - School Year 2012-13

 

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

 

 

1.  Which districts are subject to C4E requirements this year?

 

            Any district that was subject to C4E in 2011-12 will be required to submit a Contract in 2012-13, unless all of their schools are in good standing. Twenty-three districts will continue to be responsible for maintaining C4E expenditures from prior year(s), as approved by the Commissioner.       

 

 Districts subject to C4E requirements in 2012-13

 

Albany City SD

Amsterdam City SD

Binghamton City SD

Buffalo City SD

Elmira City SD

Geneva City SD

Greece CSD

Hannibal CSD

Haverstraw-Stony Point CSD

Hyde Park CSD

Massena CSD

Middletown City SD

Monticello CSD

New York City

Newburgh City SD

Ossining UFSD

Rochester City SD

Schenectady City SD

Syracuse City SD

Utica City SD

Wappingers CSD

White Plains City SD

Yonkers City SD

 

2.  Can districts change how they spend their C4E funds in 2012-13 or must the same allocations of the contract amount by school and/or allowable program made in 2011-12 continue in the upcoming year?

Districts may re-allocate funds in a different manner than in prior years.  However, the allocation of funds must continue to be for one of the seven C4E-allowable programs and must continue to predominantly benefit pupils with the greatest needs: i.e., (i) students with limited English proficiency and/or English language learners; (ii) students in poverty; (iii) students with disabilities; and (iv) students with low academic achievement.                    

3.  May districts allocate some of their Contract amounts to district-wide programs?

Yes.  Districts may allocate funds for programs which will have benefits district-wide and therefore, cannot be easily or feasibly allocated to individual schools.  Nevertheless, districts will have to demonstrate that the district-wide program benefits students with the greatest educational needs.   Examples could include, but would not be limited to, interventions such as credit recovery programs (which attempt to allow pupils to graduate); by virtue of the intent to target those most in danger of dropping out.  Such a program is considered inherently beneficial to the neediest pupils.  If you have questions as to whether a district-wide initiative would meet this needs-targetting test, contact SED staff.             

4.  Are districts subject to C4E public process requirements, including public posting of C4E plans and public hearings to obtain public feedback, if they are not reallocating any funds?

Yes.  Districts must post their plans and conduct hearings on their 2012-13 C4E plans, including amounts allocated by school and program levels.  The form templates that make up the Contract Submission must all be posted on a separate C4E website, easily accessible to the public, for the duration of the contract. All C4E districts must comply with the public process requirements, even if they are not repurposing or shifting allocations from prior years.

5.  What is the time line for 2012-13 C4Es?

See the calendar on the C4E website.

6.  How do we fulfill the requirement that our allowable programs and school-level Contract allocations predominantly benefit pupils with the greatest educational needs?  How is this measured? 

See the Need Targeting Matrix on the C4E website. The ‘need weights’ measure this dimension at a school-level of analysis; moreover, the regulations adopted require that 75% of the Contract funds must be apportioned to the most needy one-half of schools(the so-called ‘75/50’ rule) in the district or that the district must have allocated Contract funds to schools on a pro-rated or proportional basis.   As has been the practice previously, if the application of these recommended allocations should prove a hardship to the district or the district feels that there are more compelling needs not reflected in these data, SED will review on an ad-hoc basis allocations that vary from the above requirements.

Last Updated: June 17, 2013