3.2: Tiered-Evidence

Focus resources on practices with the strongest evidence.

Other Information:

Tiered-evidence grant designs -- "Tiered-evidence" or "innovation fund" grant designs focus resources on practices with the strongest evidence, but still allow for new innovation. In a three-tiered grant model, for example, grantees can qualify for 1) the "scale up" tier and receive the most funding; 2) the "validation" tier and receive less funding but evaluation support; or 3) the "proof of concept" tier and receive the least funding, but also support for evaluation. With a tiered-evidence approach, potential grantees know that to be considered for funding, they must provide demonstrated evidence behind their approach and/or be ready to subject their models to evaluation. The goal is that, over time, interventions move up tiers as evidence becomes stronger. So far five agencies have launched or proposed 13 tiered grant programs in the areas such as education, teenage pregnancy prevention, home visitation programs, workforce, international assistance, and more.

Stakeholder(s):

• Department of Education: Example: The Department of Education's Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) invests in high-impact, potentially transformative education interventions, ranging from new ideas with significant potential to those with strong evidence of effectiveness that are ready to be scaled up. Based on the success of i3, the Department recently issued proposed regulations that would allow its other competitive grant programs to adopt this three tiered model.

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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