August 6, 2026
In this opinion piece for The 74, Chris Cerf, former superintendent of Newark Public Schools and former New Jersey commissioner of education, argues that strong accountability has driven achievement gains for disadvantaged students. He makes the case that outcomes based contracting, tying provider payment to measurable learning gains rather than materials delivered, offers a more durable path. Cerf credits the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) with building shared standards that help districts and providers work together with confidence.
