The Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Aspire program uses a performance-based funding contract for workforce readiness education providers. Grants, awarded in a three-year cycle (FY18-21), require applicants to describe how the program uses rigorous research and evidence-based instruction (p. 24) and to demonstrate effectiveness through performance data (p. 8). Performance is measured annually and funding is adjusted based on performance against established benchmarks.
In 2019, the Ohio Department of Education launched a new program, Student Wellness and Success: Ideas for Innovation, to help school districts use novel strategies to increase mental health counseling, wraparound services, and mentoring programs. The evidence built from these innovation grants will be included in the Ohio Evidence-Based Clearinghouse.