Grounded in learning outcomes, not just technical potential
We are proud to launch The Learning Commons Podcast, a limited series hosted by President Sandra Liu Huang. In each episode, educators, researchers, and tool builders connect learning science research directly to classroom practice, grounding every conversation in educational quality, pedagogical rigor, and collaborative evidence-building. This pilot brings those who develop learning tools and educators together to focus on real outcomes for students and teachers.
Episode 1, “From Providers to Partners: Paying for Progress, Not Potential,” is available now. Guests in the inaugural episode are Karl Rectanus, founder and CEO of Really Great Reading, and Dr. Brittany Miller, executive director of the Center for Outcomes-Based Contracting.
The episode starts with a simple question: how do districts know an edtech tool is working? Educators and academic leaders are looking harder at the tools in their classrooms. They want evidence of real learning gains, not just usage.
With all this growth, educators are taking a hard look at what’s in use and asking not only whether these tools are active in classrooms, but critically whether they’re supporting real, research-backed gains in learning.
Sandra Liu Huang, President, Learning Commons
How outcomes-based contracting works
Outcomes-based contracting (OBC) ties what a district pays to whether students achieve agreed upon learning outcomes. Districts and providers define success up front. Then they share accountability for reaching it.
Contracts document the conversation. They are not the conversation. The beauty of OBC is that it actually starts to more clearly document the conversations that we’ve been trying to have… It helps build trust across this relationship to say, hey, we’re willing to delay our rewards and focus on the outcomes together because we have confidence.
Karl Rectanus, CEO, Really Great Reading
What I hope for the field is that we’re able to continue building evidence about what works for whom and under what conditions, maintaining our core focus on educational rigor and student achievement.
Dr. Brittany Miller, Executive Director, Center for Outcomes-Based Contracting
Why Learning Commons is convening this conversation
The Learning Commons Podcast addresses complex challenges in education and highlights the innovative, research-backed solutions being developed to solve them. While educators and students face persistent obstacles daily, experts have developed rigorous solutions that have yet to scale. This series aims to elevate these effective practices and their impact.