Harvard Strategic Data Project and Center for Outcomes Based Contracting Launch District-Led Initiative to Test Whether AI Education Tools Deliver Results for Students

November 12, 2026 – Cambridge, MA – As school districts increasingly turn to artificial intelligence driven ed-tech to support teaching and learning, a critical question remains: How can education leaders determine which tools actually improve outcomes for their students? 

The Strategic Data Project (SDP), a project of the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University, and The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting (the Center) are launching an initiative to help school districts answer that question. Funded by the Gates Foundation, the partnership is among the first to bring together nationally recognized data leadership development, outcomes based contracting (OBC) expertise, and independent evaluation at this scale to help districts make smarter investments in AI-enabled educational technology.  

Six districts currently considering AI-enabled education technology will be selected as Innovation Partners to join a fully funded Cohort 19 Working Group of the SDP Fellowship. Over 30 months, the districts’ research leaders will build their capacity to procure, implement, monitor, and evaluate AI-enabled education tools based on measurable student outcomes rather than traditional measures of adoption, such as licenses purchased, students served, or usage alone. 

OBC enables school districts to structure agreements so that at least 40% of a contract’s value is tied directly to student learning results, fostering shared accountability and supporting continuous improvement between districts and their partner providers. 

The Center will provide training and OBC coaching through its national consulting model, equipping districts to develop contracts with clear performance expectations and robust achievement measures designed to drive meaningful student results. 

Each district will nominate a staff member to serve as an SDP Fellow in the Cohort 19 Working Group. These fellows will receive training and mentorship to strengthen their district’s ability to monitor, evaluate, and communicate the impact of AI-enabled education tools procured through OBC. 

Alongside this internal capacity-building, CEPR researchers will conduct independent, external evaluations of the educational interventions each district implements. This dual approach gives districts both the skills to evaluate their own efforts and an objective, research-backed perspective to inform future decisions. 

While the initiative will work intensively with six districts, its broader goal is to help the education field learn how to make more effective, evidence-based investments in emerging technologies. Fellows will share resources, tools, and templates for the field throughout the program. 

Recruitment for eligible districts will open in November 2026. Districts selected as SDP Innovation Partners will receive fully funded access to the fellowship, training, coaching, and research support—all designed to help them implement and evaluate AI-enabled educational interventions through outcomes based contracts. Districts will remain responsible for their underlying vendor contract expenditures. 

District leaders interested in learning more about eligibility, expectations, and the application process can visit https://bit.ly/SDP-COBC

For questions, contact Alison Guerriero, SDP’s Associate Director of Partnership and Outreach at alison_segal@gse.harvard.edu, or Erica Acha-Morfaw, The Center’s Communications & Marketing Manager at eachamorfaw@centerforobc.org. 

About the Strategic Data Project  

The Harvard Strategic Data Project (SDP) works with education agencies to find and train data leaders to uncover trends, measure solutions, and effectively communicate evidence to stakeholders. SDP’s network of system leaders, fellows, and faculty come together to share how to best use data to make a difference in the lives of students. SDP Fellows are driving data-informed change in over 300 school systems and organizations. Learn more at sdp.cepr.harvard.edu.  

About the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University  

The Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, seeks to transform education through quality research and evidence. CEPR and its partners believe all students will learn and thrive when education leaders make decisions using facts and findings, rather than untested assumptions. Learn more at cepr.harvard.edu.  

About the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting  

The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting (the Center) is a nonprofit and the leading authority in advancing outcomes based contracting (OBC) in K–12 education. The Center works with states, school districts, education service providers, and intermediaries to strengthen the connection between education investments and measurable student achievement. Through technical assistance, research, and practical resources, the Center supports the adoption and implementation of high-quality OBC nationwide. Its Standards of Excellence for Outcomes Based Contracting™ establish a consistent framework for contract design, implementation, and continuous improvement, advancing shared accountability for student outcomes. For more information, visit centerforobc.org.