The Colorado Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) and the Colorado state legislature have aligned evidence definitions for a five-step evidence continuum that informs budget and spending decisions. OSPB requires agencies to identify the level of evidence and the results of any evaluations of programs as a part of the budget proposal process. OSPB also requires agencies to report on cost-benefit analyses performed on agency programs as a part of the annual budget process.
The Department of Higher Education’s Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) conducts an annual quasi-experimental design evaluation using propensity score matching to evaluate the success of programs that have received grant funding. Using COSI’s innovative model and the annual reporting requirements, COSI staff can monitor progress of grantees in achieving shared goals.
The Colorado Department of Human Services has been conducting cost-benefit analyses by evaluating at-risk Colorado youth based on their performance under Pay For Success contracts. If outcomes meet criteria of achievement based on the contract, success payments made are detailed in an annual report to the Joint Budget Committee.