6. Investing in What Works through Grants and Contracts

6.1: The state defines evidence of effectiveness and requires or rewards it in grants and contracts Greater of: A) 1 point for every $15 million spent through grants that define and prioritize evidence OR B) 1 point for every grant program that defines and prioritizes evidence. The calculation period runs from January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025. (30 points) OR There is a statewide policy (law, administrative rule or policy, executive order, etc) that requires, where practicable, all competitive grant programs in economic mobility agencies to define and prioritize evidence of effectiveness (30 points) OR a senior state leader issues a letter, policy, executive order, or other authoritative document committing to define and prioritize evidence in grant programs valued at a specific amount within a specific period of time (points awarded at half the rate of formula above, up to 15 total)

6.2: The state has a policy (law, administrative rule or guidance, executive order, grant templates, etc) that requires all competitive grant programs in economic mobility agencies to, wherever practicable, prioritize grant applications based on how well they address the needs of communities most in need.

Tennessee

Leading Example

Tennessee’s Office of Criminal Justice Programs (OCJP) manages criminal justice grants to introduce evidence-based programs in local jails. Grantees must propose interventions from the highest or second-highest evidence tiers per the Results First Clearinghouse Database.

Volunteer Tennessee, utilizing the AmeriCorps Evidence Exchange, awards funds based on evidence of effectiveness, granting up to 20 points in scoring. Applicants with 3+ years of funding must submit impact evaluation plans.

The TN Department of Education prioritizes evidence in grant programs like All Corps, focusing on high-dosage tutoring, and Summer Programming, targeting summer learning loss prevention. The Reading 360 Networks grant supports reading resources and teacher professional development to improve student reading levels.

Promising Examples

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