Should Districts Pay Vendors Based on Student Outcomes? What the Research Says

In this Education Week article, assistant editor Alyson Klein examines whether districts should tie provider payments to student outcomes, drawing on a new WestEd evaluation commissioned by the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) across eight districts in California, Florida, Mississippi and Texas. One district leader credits close, ongoing communication with providers for a smooth partnership, while a provider interviewed points to the financial risk of factors outside its control.