Center for Outcomes Based Contracting Becomes Independent Nonprofit

The Center enters next chapter after four years of incubation at Southern Education Foundation, amid national momentum behind outcomes based contracting as model for improving student outcomes

DENVER, October 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting, which helps states, districts, and providers design and implement contract models that tie payment to measurable student outcomes, today announced its transition to an independent nonprofit organization. The milestone, which comes after years of incubation within the Southern Education Foundation (SEF), signals the organization's growth and the national momentum behind outcomes based contracting as a lever for boosting student achievement.

"Our new 501(c)(3) status gives the Center the structure to work even more closely with states, school districts, and providers as they put outcomes based contracting into practice," said Brittany Miller, the Center's executive director. "Our mission has not changed. Our values have not changed. Our focus has not changed. What's changed is our readiness to meet this moment at the scale it deserves, and we're excited about what's to come."

The Center was launched in 2021 as a program of SEF, and the legal separation reflects a part of the legacy of SEF to develop strong programs that can become independent and self-sustaining. Over its nearly 160-year history, SEF has incubated initiatives in curriculum development, college scholarships, workforce development, and book publishing that were transitioned into independent organizations. Raymond Pierce, SEF's president and CEO, will join the Center's board as a founding member.

"Part of SEF's nearly 160-year legacy has been building and supporting ideas that can grow into lasting institutions and expand educational opportunity," Pierce said. "The Center's transition to an independent organization is a reflection of that tradition and of the tremendous growth and impact it has achieved over the past four years. The Southern Education Foundation is proud of what our OBC team has built, and I am confident in the direction the Center is headed, and committed to remaining a strong partner in the next chapter."

Other founding board members include Melanie Dukes, partner at LearnerStudio; Christina Grant, executive director of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University; and Mora Segal, managing director of A-Street.

The transition comes amid growing evidence and momentum for the innovative procurement model. An independent evaluation released by WestEd found learning interventions implemented under outcomes based contracts can improve student outcomes, strengthen partnerships between school districts and service providers, and build district capacity.

The Center's 2025 Impact Report reports similar results at scale. Across 46 contracts worth $28 million, students achieved more than 21,000 outcomes, and providers earned 70% of the performance-based contract portion tied to those results. Students also used their assigned classroom technology as often as recommended 69 percent of the time, compared to an industry-wide rate of just 5 percent, or nearly 14 times higher. In all, the Center has engaged more than 87 school districts and agencies and 89 providers, reaching more than 63,000 students.

That evidence is shaping policy. In August, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released a Dear Colleague Letter addressing classroom technology and highlighted outcomes based contracting as a lever for quality and accountability. Earlier this year, ED also named outcomes based contracting in the Secretary's Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Meaningful Learning Opportunities. And states are increasingly embracing the model; Louisiana recently adopted outcomes based contracting for its state-funded tutoring programs, and Michigan tied it to state funding law.

About the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting
The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting is a nonprofit organization that helps districts and providers implement outcomes based contracting with a focus on innovation, mutual accountability, and continuous improvement. By embedding measurable student outcomes into contracts, the OBC model ensures that districts can make strategic, data-driven decisions even amid resource constraints—keeping student learning at the forefront. Through direct support, research insights, public resources, technical assistance, and cohort-based learning, the Center equips districts and providers with the knowledge and tools to implement OBC effectively. Additionally, the Standards of Excellence for Outcomes Based Contracting™ establish clear benchmarks for outcomes based contracting across the K–12 landscape, balancing the need for robust support with accountability for maintaining high-quality contracts that drive meaningful outcomes for districts, educators, and students. Visit centerforobc.org to learn more.

About the Southern Education Foundation
The Southern Education Foundation (SEF) is the nation's longest-standing education opportunity organization, committed to advancing education policies and practices that elevate learning for students from low-income families and students of color in the South. Since 1867, SEF has worked to disrupt systemic inequities in education by providing technical assistance to build capacity, research-based solutions, shaping public policy, strengthening advocacy efforts, and developing transformational education leaders. As a trusted convener, SEF brings together educators, policymakers, and advocates to drive collective action and lasting change across the South.

SEF works across the entire education continuum, from early learning to and through postsecondary, to ensure every student, regardless of race, income, or zip code, receives a high-quality education that unlocks opportunity and success. Visit southerneducation.org to learn more.

SOURCE The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting