EDISON SCHOOLS INC
1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
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<TYPE>EX-10.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>y57589ex10-1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                               EDISON SCHOOLS INC.

                      1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED

1.       Purpose

         The purpose of this 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") of Edison
Schools Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is to advance the
interests of the Company's stockholders by enhancing the Company's ability to
attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make)
important contributions to the Company by providing such persons with equity
ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives and thereby better
aligning the interests of such persons with those of the Company's stockholders.
Except where the context otherwise requires, the term "Company" shall include
any of the Company's present or future subsidiary corporations as defined in
Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Code") and any other business venture
(including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in
which the Company has a significant interest, as determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board").

2.       Eligibility

         All of the Company's employees, officers, directors, consultants and
advisors (and any individuals who have accepted an offer for employment) are
eligible to be granted options, restricted stock awards or other stock-based
awards (each, an "Award") under the Plan. Each person who has been granted an
Award under the Plan shall be deemed a "Participant".

3.        Administration, Delegation

         (a) Administration by Board of Directors. The Plan will be administered
by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend
and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the
Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may correct any defect, supply any
omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner
and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it
shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board
shall be made in the Board's sole discretion and shall be final and binding on
all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award. No
director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall
be liable for any action or determination relating to or under the Plan made in
good faith.

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         (b) Delegation to Executive Officers. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more executive officers of the
Company the power to make Awards and exercise such other powers under the Plan
as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix the maximum number
of shares subject to Awards and the maximum number of shares for any one
Participant to be made by such executive officers.

         (c) Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable
law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or
more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a "Committee"). If and when the
common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") is
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), the
Board shall appoint one such Committee of not less than two members, each member
of which shall be an "outside director" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of
the Code ("Section 162(m)") and a "non-employee director" as defined in Rule
16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. All references in the Plan to the
"Board" shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the executive
officer referred to in Section 3(b) to the extent that the Board's powers or
authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or executive
officer.

4.       Stock Available for Awards

         (a) Subject to adjustment under Section 8, Awards may be made under the
Plan for up to 6,500,000 shares of Common Stock. If any Award expires or is
terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or is
forfeited in whole or in part or results in any Common Stock not being issued,
the unused Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available for the
grant of Awards under the Plan, subject, however, in the case of Incentive Stock
Options (as hereinafter defined), to any limitation required under the Code.
Shares issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but
unissued shares or treasury shares.

         (b) Per-Participant Limit. Subject to adjustment under Section 8, for
Awards granted after the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act, the
maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Award may be
granted to any Participant under the Plan shall be 1,000,000 per calendar year.
The per-Participant limit described in this Section 4(b) shall be construed and
applied consistently with Section 162(m).

5.       Stock Options

         (a) General. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock
(each, an "Option") and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered by


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each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and
limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions
relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers
necessary or advisable. An Option which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock
Option shall be designated a "Nonstatutory Stock Option".

         (b) Incentive Stock Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an
"incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an "Incentive
Stock Option") shall only be granted to employees of the Company and shall be
subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section
422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any
other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to be an
Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option.

         (c) Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price at the
time each Option is granted and specify it in the applicable option agreement.

         (d) Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times
and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the
applicable option agreement. No option will be granted for a term in excess of
10 years.

         (e) Exercise of Option. Options may be exercised by delivery to the
Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any
other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board
together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(f) for the number of
shares for which the Option is exercised.

         (f) Payment Upon Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of
an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:

                  (1) in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;

                  (2) except as the Board may, in its sole discretion, otherwise
provide in an option agreement, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and
unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the
Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price or (ii) delivery by the
Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional
instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or
a check sufficient to pay the exercise price;

                  (3) when the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange
Act, by delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at
their fair market value as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board
in good faith ("Fair Market Value"), provided (i) such method of payment is then
permitted under


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applicable law and (ii) such Common Stock was owned by the Participant at least
six months prior to such delivery;

                  (4) to the extent permitted by the Board, in its sole
discretion, by (i) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the
Company on terms determined by the Board or (ii) payment of such other lawful
consideration as the Board may determine; or

                  (5) by any combination of the above permitted forms payment.

6.       Restricted Stock

         (a) Grants. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire
shares of Common Stock, subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or
part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price from
the recipient in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the
applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable
restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award (each, a
"Restricted Stock Award").

         (b) Terms and Conditions. The Board shall determine the terms and
conditions of any such Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for
repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any. Any stock certificates
issued in respect of a Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the name of
the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, deposited by the
Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or
its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the
Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to
such restrictions to the Participant or, if the Participant has died, to the
beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to
receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the
Participant's death (the "Designated Beneficiary"). In the absence of an
effective designation by a Participant, Designated Beneficiary shall mean the
Participant's estate.

7.       Other Stock-Based Awards

         The Board shall have the right to grant other Awards based upon the
Common Stock having such terms and conditions as the Board may determine,
including the grant of shares based upon certain conditions, the grant of
securities convertible into Common Stock and the grant of stock appreciation
rights.

8.       Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events

         (a) Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares,
reclassification of shares,


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spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any distribution
to holders of Common Stock other than a normal cash dividend, (i) the number and
class of securities available under this Plan, (ii) the per-Participant limit
set forth in Section 4(b), (iii) the number and class of securities and exercise
price per share subject to each outstanding Option, (iv) the repurchase price
per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award and (v) the terms
of each other outstanding Award shall be appropriately adjusted by the Company
(or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable) to the extent the Board shall
determine, in good faith, that such an adjustment (or substitution) is necessary
and appropriate. If this Section 8(a) applies and Section 8(c) also applies to
any event, Section 8(c) shall be applicable to such event, and this Section 8(a)
shall not be applicable.

         (b) Liquidation or Dissolution. In the event of a proposed liquidation
or dissolution of the Company, the Board shall upon written notice to the
Participants provide that all then unexercised Options will (i) become
exercisable in full as of a specified time at least 10 business days prior to
the effective date of such liquidation or dissolution and (ii) terminate
effective upon such liquidation or dissolution, except to the extent exercised
before such effective date. The Board may specify the effect of a liquidation or
dissolution on any Restricted Stock Award or other Award granted under the Plan
at the time of the grant of such Award.

         (c) Acquisition Events

                  (1) Definition. An "Acquisition Event" shall mean: (a) any
merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result
of which the Common Stock is converted into or exchanged for the right to
receive cash, securities or other property or (b) any exchange of shares of the
Company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a statutory share
exchange transaction.

                  (2) Consequences of an Acquisition Event on Options. Upon the
occurrence of an Acquisition Event, or the execution by the Company of any
agreement with respect to an Acquisition Event, the Board shall provide that all
outstanding Options shall be assumed, or equivalent options shall be
substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate
thereof). For purposes hereof, an Option shall be considered to be assumed if,
following consummation of the Acquisition Event, the Option confers the right to
purchase, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Option immediately prior
to the consummation of the Acquisition Event, the consideration (whether cash,
securities or other property) received as a result of the Acquisition Event by
holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to
the consummation of the Acquisition Event (and if holders were offered a choice
of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that if the
consideration received as a result of the Acquisition Event is not solely common

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stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), the
Company may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding corporation,
provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of Options to
consist solely of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an
affiliate thereof) equivalent in fair market value to the per share
consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a
result of the Acquisition Event.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the acquiring or succeeding
corporation (or an affiliate thereof) does not agree to assume, or substitute
for, such Options, then the Board shall, upon written notice to the
Participants, provide that all then unexercised Options will become exercisable
in full as of a specified time prior to the Acquisition Event and will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such Acquisition Event, except to the
extent exercised by the Participants before the consummation of such Acquisition
Event; provided, however, that in the event of an Acquisition Event under the
terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a
cash payment for each share of Common Stock surrendered pursuant to such
Acquisition Event (the "Acquisition Price"), then the Board may instead provide
that all outstanding Options shall terminate upon consummation of such
Acquisition Event and that each Participant shall receive, in exchange therefor,
a cash payment equal to the amount (if any) by which (A) the Acquisition Price
multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding
Options (whether or not then exercisable) exceeds (B) the aggregate exercise
price of such Options.

         (3) Consequences of an Acquisition Event on Restricted Stock Awards.
Upon the occurrence of an Acquisition Event, the repurchase and other rights of
the Company under each outstanding Restricted Stock Award shall inure to the
benefit of the Company's successor and shall apply to the cash, securities or
other property which the Common Stock was converted into or exchanged for
pursuant to such Acquisition Event in the same manner and to the same extent as
they applied to the Common Stock subject to such Restricted Stock Award.

         (4) Consequences of an Acquisition Event on Other Awards. The Board
shall specify the effect of an Acquisition Event on any other Award granted
under the Plan at the time of the grant of such Award.

9.       General Provisions Applicable to Awards

         (a) Transferability of Awards. Except as the Board may otherwise
determine or provide in an Award, Awards shall not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are
granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws
of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be
exercisable only by the Participant. References to a


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Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to
authorized transferees.

         (b) Documentation. Each Award shall be evidenced by a written
instrument in such form as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain
terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.

         (c) Board Discretion. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each
Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The
terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat
Participants uniformly.

         (d) Termination of Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an
Award of the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or other
change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to
which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant's legal
representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise
rights under the Award.

         (e) Withholding. Each Participant shall pay to the Company, or make
provision satisfactory to the Board for payment of, any taxes required by law to
be withheld in connection with Awards to such Participant no later than the date
of the event creating the tax liability. Except as the Board may otherwise
provide in an Award, when the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act,
Participants may, to the extent then permitted under applicable law, satisfy
such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery of shares of Common Stock,
including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at
their Fair Market Value. The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct
any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a
Participant.

         (f) Amendment of Award. The Board may amend, modify or terminate any
outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another
Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or
realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock
Option, provided that the Participant's consent to such action shall be required
unless the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related
action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant.

         (g) Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated
to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove
restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all
conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the
Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company's counsel, all other legal matters
in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied,
including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or
stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant


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has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as
the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any
applicable laws, rules or regulations.

         (h) Acceleration. The Board may at any time provide that any Options
shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, that any Restricted
Stock Awards shall be free of restrictions in full or in part or that any other
Awards may become exercisable in full or in part or free of some or all
restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the
case may be.

10.      Miscellaneous

         (a) No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any
claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be
construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other
relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any
time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free
from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the
applicable Award.

         (b) No Rights As Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the
applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights
as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed
with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the
Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the
number of shares subject to such Option are adjusted as of the date of the
distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such
dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and
the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on
the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common
Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such
shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for
such stock dividend.

         (c) Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective on
the date on which it is adopted by the Board, but no Award granted to a
Participant that is intended to comply with Section 162(m) shall become
exercisable, vested or realizable, as applicable to such Award, unless and until
the Plan has been approved by the Company's stockholders to the extent
stockholder approval is required by Section 162(m) in the manner required under
Section 162(m) (including the vote required under Section 162(m)). No Awards
shall be granted under the Plan after the completion of ten years from the
earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the
date the Plan was approved by the Company's stockholders, but Awards previously
granted may extend beyond that date.

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         (d) Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the
Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that to the extent required by
Section 162(m), no Award granted to a Participant that is intended to comply
with Section 162(m) after the date of such amendment shall become exercisable,
realizable or vested, as applicable to such Award, unless and until such
amendment shall have been approved by the Company's stockholders as required by
Section 162(m) (including the vote required under Section 162(m)).

         (e) Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made
hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of
the State of Delaware, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law.

                                    Adopted by the Board of Directors on October
                                    4, 1999

                                    Approved by the Stockholders on October 26,
                                    1999

                                    As amended by the Board of Directors on
                                    October 20, 2000 to increase the number of
                                    shares available for Awards from 2,500,000
                                    to 4,500,000 shares of Common Stock, which
                                    amendment was approved by the Stockholders
                                    on November 30, 2000

                                    And as further amended by the Board of
                                    Directors on August 22, 2001 to increase the
                                    number of shares available for Awards from
                                    4,500,000 to 6,500,000 shares of Common
                                    Stock, which amendment was approved by the
                                    Stockholders on December 6, 2001


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