News
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August 6, 2026 | Uncategorized
Should Districts Pay Vendors Based on Student Outcomes? What the Research Says
New WestEd research on outcomes based contracting weighs the promise and the pitfalls of paying providers for student results.
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August 6, 2026 | News
Accountability Works. Outcomes-Based Contracting Makes It Work Better
Former Newark superintendent Chris Cerf argues outcomes based contracting gives accountability a more durable path forward.
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August 4, 2026 | News
Early Evidence Finds Outcomes Based Contracting Boosts Student Performance
New WestEd research finds outcomes based contracting boosts student performance in early-adopter districts — at costs comparable to traditional contracts.
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July 20, 2026 | News
Outcomes-based contracting is a big shift for the edtech world
Coursemojo co-CEO Dacia Toll makes the case in District Administration that outcomes based contracting is the answer to edtech's accountability problem, citing the Center's Standards and featuring insights from the Center's Jasmine Walker on cross-functional district collaboration.
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June 4, 2026 | Articles
Follow the North Star: using data-informed implementation to drive better outcomes
There’s a difference between data that’s easy to dismiss and data that demands a response. Cara Jackson and Elise Lenthe attended the 2026 Strategic Data Project Convening and came back with that insight, alongside a clear case from Duval County Public Schools for why implementation doesn’t survive on goodwill…
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May 26, 2026 | Articles
When the Contract Tells You What to Track
Outcomes based contracting promises that districts pay for results, not just services. But that promise only holds if districts and providers can see what's happening while there's still time to act. Brittany Miller, Executive Director of the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting, and Justin Serrano, CEO of Littera Education, examine what it takes to build data infrastructure that makes contract terms visible in real time—and what becomes possible when accountability is legible at the speed of implementation, not the speed of publication.
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April 10, 2026 | News
Beyond the Buzz: What Outcomes Based Contracting Actually Changes in Edtech
In this Government Technology article, Julia Gilban-Cohen examines what outcomes based contracting for edtech actually changes in practice, drawing on findings from the Digital Promise report. Rather than framing OBC as a money-back guarantee, the piece explores how the model creates mutual accountability between districts and vendors, encourages…
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April 7, 2026 | News
Schools Are Paying for Ed Tech That Students Never Use – Could A New Contract Model Change That?
In this article from The 74, senior writer Greg Toppo examines how outcomes based contracting is reshaping the way districts evaluate and purchase edtech. Drawing on findings from the recently released Digital Promise report, Toppo explores how the model drives higher implementation rates, greater instructional coherence, and…
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March 19, 2026 | News
4 Key Ways To Improve Outcomes-Based Contracts For Intervention Products
In this EdWeek Market Brief article, Emma Kate Fittes examines findings from a new Digital Promise report on outcomes based contracting for edtech interventions. Drawing on site visits and interviews with OBC coaches, district leaders, and providers, the report identifies four key steps for providers navigating OBCs: allow more…
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March 16, 2026 | News
How Districts Are Experimenting With Outcomes Based Contracts in Edtech
This K12 Dive article examines how outcomes based contracting is reshaping the way districts evaluate edtech investments, featuring findings from a new report by Digital Promise. Highlights include how Fresno USD’s outcomes based contract led to regular data-driven check-ins with the provider, stronger implementation, and the district paying only…
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March 11, 2026 | Articles
What K12 Providers Get Wrong About Outcomes Based Contracting (And Four ‘Aha’ Moments That Change That)
"Too risky." "Payment depends on perfection." "Is the upside worth the coordination?" These are the concerns providers bring to the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting when they first encounter the model—and they're understandable. Jillian Evans unpacks four misconceptions that get in the way, and shows how strong outcomes based contracts are built to be fair, transparent, and designed so providers can earn more for delivering real results.
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February 26, 2026 | Articles
3 Takeaways on Tutoring From the Accelerate Convening
Tutoring works best when implementation works. This blog shares three key takeaways from the recent Accelerate convening, connecting research on dosage, instructional alignment, and participation to the Standards of Excellence for Outcomes Based Contracting™: High-Dosage Tutoring. The takeaway is practical: districts can turn evidence into clear expectations, stronger partnerships, and more reliable student results.
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January 22, 2026 | News
The Design Gap: Why ‘Good Enough’ Consumer Tech Isn’t Good Enough For Schools
In this Forbes Nonprofit Council article, Erin Mote examines the growing divide between consumer AI tools and technology designed for learning. The piece highlights why districts need stronger procurement practices and why the Standards of Excellence for Outcomes Based Contracting™ matter when evaluating tools for implementation, evidence, and…
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December 9, 2025 | News
Outcomes Based Contracts: Centering Learning on Continuous Student Growth
In outcomes based contracting in education, districts and providers share accountability for student results. This EdWeb article explains how tying payment to measurable learning goals changes provider relationships, strengthens implementation, and helps schools sustain interventions beyond short-term funding cycles. Read More…
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December 3, 2025 | News
2,739 Ed Tech Tools Later, Where Are the Outcomes?
Too many tools, not enough results. Districts now manage thousands of edtech products each year, yet student outcomes often remain unchanged. As budgets tighten, leaders need more than features and promises. They need clarity about what works. The Center for Outcomes based contracting shifts the conversation by aligning contracts to…
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November 13, 2025 | News
5 Big Questions From 2025 EdWeek Market Brief Summit, Answered
5 Big Questions From the 2025 EdWeek Market Brief Summit, Answered, EdWeek Market Brief. This follow-up piece pulls together big insights from the Summit, including the Center’s growing influence in shaping how districts define impact.
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November 4, 2025 | News
How The OBC Model Can Deliver Meaningful Learning Opportunities
Outcomes based contracting transforms how students experience learning. Explore how tying funding to measurable results creates conditions for high-quality intervention implementation, continuous improvement, and data-driven adjustments that deliver more intentional, effective, and equitable learning opportunities for every student.
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November 4, 2025 | News
Helpful Aspects of Outcomes-Based Contracts that K-12 Officials Want All Vendors to Know
K12 leaders want partners, not vendors. Learn what education officials value most in OBC relationships, from shared risk and transparent data to implementation support and mutual accountability, and discover how providers can position themselves as true collaborators in student success.
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October 31, 2025 | News
The New Education Economy: Building Sustainable Impact at Scale
Education funding is shifting from paying for services to paying for results. Discover how outcomes based contracting aligns incentives, builds transparency, and ensures accountability flows both ways when districts and providers share responsibility for to create sustainable impact and better student outcomes.
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October 3, 2025 | Event
Webinar: What’s Next with OBC? Coaching and Support Opportunities for Providers
On Oct 7-10, the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) is opening the doors to personalized coaching designed specifically for #K12 service providers. This session will help you determine if coaching with the Center for OBC is the right next step for your organization.
For press inquiries, please contact press@obc-southerneducation.org