News

September 11, 2026 | News

Outcomes Based Contracting Requires Not Just Accountability, but Partnership

Curriculum Associates CEO Kelly Sia on why outcomes based contracting depends on partnership, not just accountability.

August 26, 2026 | News

Can a Letter From Washington Actually Change How Schools Buy Technology?

Dr. Brittany Miller joins EdSurge to unpack new federal edtech guidance urging schools to buy for outcomes, not screen time.

August 20, 2026 | Press Release

U.S. Department of Education Releases Guidance on Responsible Use of Education Technology in the Classroom

New federal edtech guidance cites WestEd's outcomes based contracting research as evidence for shared-accountability partnerships.

August 10, 2026 | News

Proof Points: Paying Vendors for Student Results

New WestEd research finds early promise for outcomes based contracting, but can't yet separate contract effects from coaching support.

August 6, 2026 | News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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.

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…

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…

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…

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.