OBC Curriculum-Based Professional Learning (CBPL) Cohort Is Now Full!

The Center for OBC is excited to announce the launch of its OBC CBPL Cohort.
This first joint cohort uniquely brings together CBPL providers and school districts in a collaborative OBC experience.

This cohort will use OBC to strengthen the delivery of ongoing, effective professional learning that supports teachers’ implementation of high-quality instructional materials and improves student outcomes.

Cohort Timeline

Applications for the current cohort are now closed. Please check back soon to learn about our next cohort availability.

  • Spring 2025: virtual workshops and coaching calls to understand OBC concepts and develop / execute contract
  • SY2025-26: CBPL delivery, ongoing continuous improvement, and OBC coaching
  • Summer 2026: compute and finalize year one contingent payments
  • SY2026-27: CBPL delivery, ongoing continuous improvement, and OBC coaching
  • Summer 2027: compute and finalize year two contingent payments

Overview

  • This cohort offers districts and providers a structured opportunity to co-develop and implement outcomes based contracts. Participants will engage in workshops, receive coaching, and access tools to strengthen CBPL delivery. This model, with 40% of provider payments tied to student outcomes, ensures that all efforts focus on driving student success.
  • This first joint cohort uniquely brings together CBPL providers and school districts in a collaborative OBC experience.
  • CBPL providers and school districts will be accepted to the cohort in pairs; either party may submit the application, and it should be noted that a  provider may work with multiple district partners.

Format

  • Virtual workshops, individual coaching sessions
  • Shared site visit and individual partner visits

Cohort Focus

  • Direct negotiation of contracts that provide ongoing implementation support to teachers and leaders (contracts should include direct service to teachers as well as elements of leader support and span the full school year – may include workshops, coaching, and/or collaboration)
  • The cohort will focus on ongoing curriculum-based professional learning that supports teachers’ implementation of high-quality instructional materials. Contracts should include year-long direct support to teachers (train the trainer models are not eligible at this time) as well as elements of leader support. More details are available here.

The OBC CBPL Cohort Is Now Full!

The cohort for 2025 is now full. Please read below for more information or connect with us to signal your interest for future cohorts.

If you have any questions please contact obc@obc-southerneducation.org. 

Opportunity Summary

OBC Curriculum-Based PL Cohort FAQs

  • What is the OBC Curriculum-Based PL Cohort?

    The OBC Curriculum-Based PL Cohort will bring together professional learning providers and districts, using outcomes based contracting to strengthen the delivery of ongoing, effective professional learning that supports teachers’ implementation of high-quality instructional materials and ultimately improves student outcomes. This model promotes mutual accountability and aims to achieve lasting, measurable student outcomes.

  • Who can apply?

    CBPL providers and school districts committed to instructional excellence and improving student outcomes, are invited to apply. CBPL providers and school districts will be accepted to the cohort in pairs; either party may submit the application (note: a provider may work with multiple district partners).

  • What support is provided throughout the cohort?

    Participants will access virtual workshops, individualized coaching from OBC experts, and annual site visits to learn from real-time implementations and foster collaboration across districts and providers. The objective of the cohort is for participants to develop and execute outcomes based contracts for ongoing, effective curriculum-based professional learning that supports teachers’ implementation of high-quality instructional materials and ultimately improves student outcomes.

    Cohort benefits include:

    • Shared learning about both curriculum-based PL and outcomes based contracting
    • Expert-led virtual workshops and continuous improvement coaching
    • Annual site visits to observe OBC in action
    • Resources, tools, and coaching to develop contracts and implement PL aligned with impactful learning outcomes
  • What are the application timelines?
    • Application Opened: November 1, 2024
    • Application Closed: November 30, 2024
    • Participant Notification: December  2024
    • Cohort Launch: January 2025
  • What commitments are required from cohort participants?

    Both providers and districts participating in the OBC Curriculum-Based PL Cohort are committed to engaging in continuous improvement and ensuring all efforts are grounded in quality, equity, and accountability. Together, they will focus on:

    • Comprehensive PL Engagement: Districts and providers will work together to support teachers and leaders, aligning directly with state standards and local priorities.

    Accountability through OBC: At least 40% of payments to providers will be tied to teacher and student outcomes, creating a model of mutual accountability that benefits historically marginalized students.

    The shared commitments providers and districts must commit to include:

    • Commit to participating in the cohort from January 2025 through finalizing payments from SY2026-27
    • Attend virtual workshops to learn how to utilize OBC as a model for maximizing fiscal responsibility and ensuring quality implementation that leads to outcomes
    • Engage in individualized virtual coaching sessions and receive project management from national OBC experts
    • Participate in annual shared site visits (Spring 2025 and Spring 2026) to observe the implementation of services under an OBC in action
    • Contract for curriculum-based PL that includes ongoing (year-long) direct supports to teachers serving at least 400 historically marginalized students (e.g. students of color, students experiencing poverty), with at least 40% of the provider payment contingent upon achieving teacher and student outcomes
    • Engage in ongoing continuous improvement efforts in service of improving outcomes articulated in the contract 
    • Establish a data-sharing agreement with all necessary parties
  • What outcomes does the cohort aim to achieve?

    The cohort is designed to maximize resource effectiveness and foster mutual accountability, ultimately enhancing the quality of teacher support and ensuring student success in historically marginalized groups. Our focus for the cohort is centered around direct negotiation of contracts that provide ongoing implementation support to teachers and leaders (contracts should include direct service to teachers as well as elements of leader support and span the full school year – may include workshops, coaching, and/or collaboration).