Clearly Define Evidence: Examples

Examples of Defining Evidence at the Local Level

Defining Evidence Through an Evidence Framework

• The South Central Iowa Local Workforce Development Board’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title 1 Youth and Title 1 Adult and Dislocated Worker Services program defines both evidence-based and evidence-building, including detailed criteria for levels of evidence within each. 

Defining Evidence By Describing Key Program Features

• Duval County Public School’s Outcomes-Based Contracting for Math Tutoring defines evidence by describing the key program features of evidence-based high-impact tutoring.

• Uplift Education’s Grades 3-12 Virtual Tutoring Program defines evidence by describing the key program features of evidence-based high-impact tutoring.

• In their Youth Development Enrichment Program: Expanded Learning program, the Oakland Unified School District defines evidence by describing the key program features of the expanded learning component of evidence-based Full Service Community Schools.

• The Denver Workforce Development Board’s Youth Employment Program defines evidence by describing the key program features of an evidence-based youth employment program.

Examples of Defining Evidence at the State and Federal Levels

Defining Evidence Using the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

• In the Arizona Department of Education’s (ADE) guidance for the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program, ADE defines “evidence-based practices” by referring to the ESSA evidence provisions and by including descriptions of ESSA’s four levels of evidence (page 12).

• In their Strong Connections Grant program, the Maryland Department of Education defines evidence by referring to the ESSA evidence provisions and includes the language from ESSA that describes Levels I, II, III and IV evidence-based activities, strategies or interventions (page 11).

Defining Evidence By Describing Key Program Features

• The Minnesota Department of Education cites federal guidance in defining what makes a Full-Service Community Schools model evidence-based (page 8).

• In their All-Corps High-Dosage Tutoring grant program, the Tennessee Department of Education defines “evidence-based high-dosage tutoring” by including the specific design features of an evidence-based high-dosage tutoring program in their request for proposals (page 10) and associated resources.

Defining Evidence Using a State or Federal Definition (other than ESSA)

• The Colorado Department of Education’s 2021 Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant references the Colorado READ Act (i.e., state legislation) to define evidence (page 8).

• The Nevada Department of Education’s 2022 Addressing the Impact of Learning Loss and Closing Funding Gaps grant program defines evidence by referring to the definition used by the federal State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program (Appendix C).