DENVER – October 30, 2026 -- Eight Arkansas school districts will design outcomes based contracts (OBCs) in which at least 40% of a contract's value depends on agreed student results, for instructional interventions starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting and Forward Arkansas announced the cohort.
Contracts link at least 40% of provider payment to measurable outcomes
Under the Center's Standards of Excellence, each OBC sets clear learning goals, identifies the students to be served and defines how success is measured. Payment is tied to those outcomes rather than to service delivery alone. The first interventions covered include high-impact tutoring.
Districts receive coaching and tools at no cost
Each participating district will form a leadership team of three to five people. Districts receive expert coaching, implementation tools and evaluation support free of charge. The program also includes workshops, site visits, a statewide convening and continuous improvement cycles during contract rollout. Districts began workshops this week at Forward's OBC Fall 2026 Institute at the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock.
Pilot cohort achieved 92% of contracted outcomes
Arkansas was the first state to launch a state-based cohort with the Center. In 2025-2026, five districts implemented eight OBCs with seven providers. Preliminary data show 92% of contracted outcomes were achieved.
The Arkansas Department of Education has begun prioritizing districts that adopt the model when awarding high-impact tutoring grants for the 2026-27 school year. That gives districts a funding incentive to adopt OBCs ahead of the new cohort's contracts.
Brittany Miller, the Center's executive director, called Arkansas a "trailblazer" in outcomes based contracting. Edie Stewart, Forward's CEO, said the approach helps ensure district dollars support student progress.