In 2015, the enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) ushered in changes for state accountability systems and guidelines for funding. ESSA allows for more targeted and diverse ways to meet student need than under No Child Left Behind. It shifts the responsibility for school improvement to districts while also requiring them to select evidence-based interventions to help schools improve.

Although ESSA defines what is meant by evidence-based interventions, districts are responsible for selecting and implementing the strategies that are best aligned to their school needs. This increased responsibility creates a greater need than ever before for districts to select partners to support and provide services that would be prohibitively difficult for a school or district to offer on its own. In many areas, school leaders recognize the valuable role that external providers can play in supporting school improvement work. However, finding a partner that is the right fit can be daunting and time consuming.

The Guide for Working with External Providers was developed to support state and district leaders in identifying and working with external partners.