Strategy 1: Define Evidence of Effectiveness
AmeriCorps Common Evidence Framework
AmeriCorps has a common evidence framework for funding decisions in the Senior Corps and AmeriCorps state and national programs, including pre-preliminary, preliminary, moderate, and strong evidence tiers. In FY22, 64% of competitively awarded funds were invested in interventions with moderate and strong evidence. In 2023, thirty states used this federal definition of evidence in their most recent AmeriCorps grant applications.
Colorado Workforce Development Council Evidence Framework LINK
The Colorado Workforce Development Council developed an evidence continuum to inform the creation and delivery of technical assistance to build capacity and increase the body of evidence for effective talent initiatives in Colorado.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Evidence Framework LINK
Pennsylvaniaʼs Department of Labor and Industry developed an evidence continuum and leverages it when awarding grants and providing technical assistance to providers.
Results for America 2023 State Standard LINK
Results for America has identified ten states that have prioritized outcomes by defining and prioritizing evidence of effectiveness in the budget process including: CO, IL, MN, NC, NM, OH, OR, RI, TN, and UT.
State of Minnesota Evidence Framework LINK
The Results First Initiative within the state of Minnesota’s Management and Budget Office created an evidence framework to rate the state’s programs and services. In this framework, programs and services are considered evidence-based if they fall in the “Proven Effective” or “Promising” categories. Ratings from each program are publicized in the Minnesota Inventory, a state evidence clearinghouse.
State of New Mexico Evidence Framework LINK
In 2019, the state of New Mexico passed the Evidence and Research Based Funding Requests Act, which defined four tiers of evidence and required state agencies to categorize sub-programs according to these tiers and report on the amount allocated for each of these evidence tiers. Each year, New Mexico’s Legislative Finance Committee oversees this work, providing budget guidance for agencies, recommendations for evidence-based programs through their Legislating for Results framework, training, and technical assistance.
State of Tennessee Evidence Framework LINK
The state of Tennessee’s Office of Evidence and Impact evidence framework considers programs evidence-based if they are supported by at least one rigorous evaluation. This framework is used as part of a program inventory to identify how funding is allocated across different programs, the services provided, and any evidence tied to the program’s outcomes. For Tennessee, rigorous evaluations include randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs that use comparison groups.
Texas Workforce Commission Evidence Framework LINK
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) began using its Evidence Framework to prioritize evidence of effectiveness when awarding $1.5 million in training grants for the 2021 Building and Construction Trades Program, which prepares youth for employment in construction occupations. TWC provided up to 10 points out of 110 to applicants based on the causal evidence supporting each application, and up to 15% of grant payments were tied to specified outputs and outcomes, including participation completion, receipt of industry-based certification, and employment.
Texas agencies have continued to leverage this framework across other grant programs including the Texas Talent Connection Program, Perkins State Leadership Grants (FY2025), and additional rounds of Building and Construction Trades grants (2023, 2023 Addendum).
U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse LINK
The U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews and summarizes studies of education programs – including postsecondary career and technical education programs – and assigns those programs to strong or moderate evidence tiers.
U.S. Department of Labor’s Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and Research LINK
The Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and Research (CLEAR), includes descriptive, implementation, and impact studies for workforce development and employment-related programs on a wide variety of topics. CLEAR rates the evidence presented in impact studies as high, moderate, or low depending on how confident they can be that the study outcomes are attributable to the program. Review CLEAR’s rating criteria here.
Strategy 2: Prioritize Evidence
Colorado Workforce Development Council Reskilling, Upskilling, and Next-skilling (RUN) Workers Grant LINK
The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) applied their evidence continuum to this RFP for the Reskilling, Upskilling, and Next-skilling (RUN) Workers Grant to facilitate training and industry-recognized credential attainment for up to 1,200 unemployed and underemployed workers in the state. Part of the evaluation and scoring included the level of evidence that exists supporting the program model of the applicant, as based on CWDC’s evidence continuum.
Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018 LINK
The federal Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018 requires states making subgrants through the competitive Youth Promise Grant to give priority to applicants using evidence-based strategies.
New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions Americorps Grant LINK
This grant provides points based on evidence. Applicants can receive up to 20 points out of 100 depending on their tier of evidence (Pre-preliminary, Preliminary, Moderate, or Strong) and the quality of the evidence through evaluative reports or reliable narrative reports about the evidence base of their program.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry – Industry Partnership Grants LINK
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry uses their evidence of effectiveness definitions to guide the allocation of funds to support the development, launch, implementation, and technical assistance of their Industry Partnerships grant program by awarding 10 points out of 100 based on the evidence of effectiveness supporting applicants’ proposed projects.
State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Compliance and Reporting Guidance LINK
This resource offers instructions for jurisdictions using American Rescue Plan funds to build data and evidence capacity, invest in evidence-based solutions and rigorous evaluation with an eye toward equitable outcomes, and incorporate diverse community feedback.
Texas Building and Construction Trades Grant LINK
The Texas Workforce Commission’s 2021 Building and Construction Trades program prioritized evidence by providing up to 10 points out of 110 to applicants based on the causal evidence supporting their application, and up to 15% of grant payments were tied to specified outputs and outcomes, including participation completion, receipt of industry-based certification, and employment. This work has continued forward through additional rounds of the grant (2023, 2023 Addendum). Similar point systems have been incorporated into the Texas Talent Connection Program, and the Perkins Equitable Access and Opportunity Program as well.
Texas Workforce Commission Adult Education and Literacy Employer Engagement Grant LINK
The Texas Workforce Commission’s 2022 Adult Education and Literacy Employer Engagement program prioritized evidence by providing up to 10 points out of 110 to applicants based on the causal evidence supporting their application.
U.S. Department of Labor Reentry Employment Opportunities Program LINK
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Reentry Employment Opportunities Program supports reentry into the community for individuals who have been involved in the criminal legal system. The department prioritizes evidence of effectiveness in this program by awarding up to 10 points out of 100 based on the quality of an applicant’s project design, including evidence of effectiveness for the proposed project.
Strategy 3: Link Payments to Outcomes
Memphis Workforce Investment Network LINK
The Memphis Workforce Investment Network used WIOA funds in 2018 to award an outcomes-based contract for transitional jobs services to the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), which offers an evidence-based model for reentry employment. The contract paid for three specific thresholds: (1) 40% for participants enrolled, entered into the system, and confirmed to be eligible; (2) 40% for participants completing transitional employment; and (3) 20% for participants successfully placed in unsubsidized employment. The contractor was required to invoice on a monthly basis for participants meeting the thresholds. Memphis and CEO tracked outcomes for these participants for at least four quarters using WIOA data to better understand the link between the outcomes payments and longer-term impacts.
New Orleans Workforce Development Board LINK
This board used cost-reimbursement and bonus payments to achieve outcomes for opportunity youth. Ten percent of the contract was reserved for bonus payments tied to critical outcomes, including short-term outcomes (33% of bonus) and long-term outcomes (67% of bonus).
Ohio: Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio (WDBCO) In School and Out of School Youth Contracts LINK
In 2022, the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio (WDBCO) released performance-based RFPs for in-school and out-of-school youth with performance payments for priority outcomes. The contract specifies performance metrics beyond WIOA Common Measures. These additional metrics account for 35% of the total reimbursable costs of the contract in the first and second years. Each performance metric has been assigned a “performance success target,” which is the minimum level of performance the provider must meet in order to be reimbursed up to 100% of their contract.
Ohio: Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio (WDBCO) One Stop Center & Career Services Contracts LINK
In 2020, the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio (WDBCO) released performance-based RFPs for their One-Stop Center operator and their main career services provider that combine cost-reimbursement with performance payments for priority outcomes. The contract specifies performance metrics beyond WIOA Common Measures and each metric was assigned a baseline measure as the minimum level of performance required to begin receiving bonus payments, and each metric accounts for 9% of the total direct operational costs.
Pennsylvania: Partner4Work LINK
In 2020, Partner4Work, the workforce development agency for the Pittsburgh area, issued this RFP to identify training programs that would provide a specific pathway for job seekers to gain industry-recognized credentials and employment. To incentivize credential attainment, the RFP specified that “payment will be made 50% on enrollment into a training program and 50% when documentation of a credential earned is provided.” Evidence-driven organizations, including Per Scholas, were awarded contracts through this RFP allowing them to serve more participants.
San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development LINK
The City and County of San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development restructured its contracts for American Job Centers to offer a 10% performance-based payment for the placement of individuals with barriers to employment into jobs paying above the minimum wage. The RFP explains that the agency “will provide a base cost-reimbursement amount for start-up, operating expenses, training and supportive services. 90% of the grant budget will be offered as the base reimbursement amount. The remaining 10% of the grant amount will be set aside for performance-based grant achievements.”
Texas Building and Construction Trades Grant LINK
The Texas Workforce Commission’s 2021 Building and Construction Trades program prioritized evidence by providing up to 10 points out of 110 to applicants based on the causal evidence supporting their application, and up to 15% of grant payments were tied to specified outputs and outcomes, including participation completion, receipt of industry-based certification, and employment. This work has continued forward through additional rounds of the grant (2023, 2023 Addendum). Similar point systems have been incorporated into the Texas Talent Connection Program, and the Perkins Equitable Access and Opportunity Program as well.
Virginia Skillsource DOL Pay for Performance (PFP) Contract LINK
Skillsource, the nonprofit arm of Virginia Career Works – Northern Region, identified that young adults in foster care and juvenile justice programs were not accessing One-Stop Job Centers or available services to help them onto career pathways. The organization implemented a US Department of Labor Pay for Performance (PFP) contract to link funding directly to positive outcomes for these young people, awarding vendors up to $150,000.
Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) LINK
DCYF is shifting its entire contracted client services portfolio to performance-based contracts, a key priority in the agency’s 2021–2026 Racial Equity and Strategic Plan. The project intentionally focuses on deepening stakeholder engagement, using Performance-Based Contracting as a tool to identify and address disproportionality and outcome disparities, and facilitating continuous improvement through data and research. By 2023, DCYF had successfully initiated the shift in over 70% of its portfolio, which includes more than 1,000 contracts and approximately $1 billion each biennium.
Strategy 4: Use Active Contract Management
Rhode Island’s Department of Human Services (DHS) LINK
Rhode Island’s Department of Human Services (DHS) uses active contract management to improve supportive service delivery and employment outcomes in Rhode Island Works, the state’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. DHS meets with service providers each month to review key data on referrals, enrollments, barriers to employment, and job placements and discuss ways to improve service delivery in real time. Since its inception, more than 830 unique clients have enrolled in services and the work participation rate in contracted services improved by one-third in just six months.
Rhode Island’s Department of Labor and Training LINK
Rhode Island’s Department of Labor and Training used active contract management to achieve better outcomes in its sector-based workforce development program, Real Jobs Rhode Island. The Department found that active contract management led to more targeted recruitment and better job placements for participants.
Washington, DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) LINK
Washington, D.C. procured a new one-stop operator to improve coordination of services for jobseekers at one-stop career centers in the District. The contract uses active contract management, requiring regular performance data reviews and check-ins between the one-stop operator, one-stop partners, the Department of Employment Services, and the Workforce Investment Council. These meetings offer an opportunity to review key performance indicators, including the number of referrals and enrollments and the length of time from referral to enrollment, and course-correct in real-time.
Strategy 5: Build Evidence Through Evaluations
Americorps Evidence Exchange LINK
Americorps has been a leader in investing federal grant funds in interventions with a moderate or strong evidence base. The Evidence Exchange offers a repository of research and evaluation reports that identify efficacy of its interventions and approaches.
Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) LINK
The Colorado Department of Human Services’ (CDHS) 2018 ReHire Colorado RFP required all applicants to cooperate with the randomized controlled trial the department was using to evaluate the transitional jobs program: “In accordance with the Colorado Careers Act, the ReHire Colorado program will be subject to evaluation. This evaluation has taken the form of a randomized control trial. All selected vendors must agree to cooperate with this trial, at the discretion of the State, and ensure sufficient controls related to the evaluation model to protect the fidelity of the findings (see Exhibit F for an overview of the random control trial evaluation and anticipated responsibilities). Explicit guidance for the execution of the evaluation will be provided by the State.”
State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Compliance and Reporting Guidance LINK
This resource offers instructions for jurisdictions using American Rescue Plan funds to build data and evidence capacity, invest in evidence-based solutions and rigorous evaluation with an eye toward equitable outcomes, and incorporate diverse community feedback.
Texas Workforce Commission Evaluations LINK
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) awarded a $200,000 contract to the Ray Marshall Center to conduct the evaluations in partnership with Building and Construction Trades program awardees. This initiative worked to build evidence by funding evaluations that assess participant outcomes, program implementation, and participant and employer feedback on the programs. TWC’s approach improves equity by providing access to evaluations that vendors otherwise may not be able to afford, leads to more opportunities for programs to show and improve their effectiveness, and creates pathways for evidence-building and advancing vendors up the evidence framework’s evidence tiers.
U.S. Department of Labor’s Evidence Building Plan LINK
The Department’s learning agenda lays out strategies for improving the programs, policies, and regulations of the Department and to identify approaches for developing new credible information to support improved outcomes.
Utah Governor’s Office Goal Tracking Dashboard LINK
This dashboard reports on metrics including equitable access to resources, practices and policies.
Virginia Career Works
The 2023 Supplemental Workforce Development Training Opportunity Grant RFP includes the following language: “In the event an evaluation of subaward outcomes is conducted, the subrecipient will be required to participate in the evaluation by providing requested data and information.”