What are some common misconceptions about Contracts for Excellence?
Misconception 1: That C4E is like a grant program with specific dollars associated with it. Fact: C4E is a set of restrictions placed on a portion of a district’s Foundation Aid increase (referred to as Contract funds or the Contract Amount). Two districts can have the same aid increase and one can be a Contract district and the other not. Some distinctions are: • the Contract district also has school(s) in accountability status for at least two years, • districts may be comparing different aid totals, including other aids than Foundation Aid, which are not subject to the Contract requirement, or • one school has charter school tuition increases that are deducted, leading to a final contact amount that is zero or less. Misconception 2: That Contract activities begun in 2007-08 must be continued in 2008-09 and paid for by either additional taxpayer levy or other district funds. Fact: Contract expenditures incurred in 2007-08 must be continued in 2008-09 with flexibility to reallocate as
