This paper analyses the consequences of the Gestão Nota 10 (First-Class Management) and Escola Campeã (Champion School) programmes for public education service and management. Those programmes are the result of partnerships between some Brazilian cities and the Ayrton Senna Institute (IAS). The paper is based upon the results of case studies carried out in 10 cities in different Brazilian states as part of a national research. By analysing documentary sources and interviews with city managers, the paper tries to indicate regularities found in the information collected in the case studies.