What Works Cities Certification

WHAT WORKS CITIES CERTIFICATION RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES U.S. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE LEADING THE NATION IN THE USE OF DATA AND EVIDENCE TO INCREASE GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPROVE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS.

By rewarding achievements and providing a clear path to excellence, What Works Cities Certification supports local leaders in leveraging “what works” to deliver stronger results for their residents. In January 2018, we announced the inaugural group of nine cities to achieve this distinction. Learn more about how they’re leading the way by clicking the photos below.

CERTIFIED CITIES

Five cities were also selected for the Certification Honor Roll. They are up-and-coming leaders in data-driven governance and are on the path to Certification.

  • Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Providence, Rhode Island
  • Scottsdale, Arizona
  • South Bend, Indiana
  • Topeka, Kansas

HOW CERTIFICATION WORKS

When a city applies for What Works Cities Certification, its practices and policies are assessed across a number of criteria aligned with the What Works Cities Standard. For each criterion assessed, local governments earn points that reflect the presence and caliber of each policy or practice. A team from Results for America, along with its assembled experts, conducts the assessments. Based on the total number of points earned, a local government can achieve one of three tiers of Certification. Want to get started? Learn about the five steps your city can take to begin working toward Certification here.

Local governments are good at understanding data, tracking process, and using data and evidence to make decisions.
  • Local governments work across at least two components of the What Works Cities Standard

Local governments are great at understanding data, tracking progress, and using data and evidence to inform decisions.
  • Local governments work across at least three components of the What Works Cities Standard

Local governments set the precedent in understanding data, tracking progress, and using data and evidence to inform decisions.
  • Local governments work across all components of the What Works Cities Standard

WHY CERTIFICATION?

HOW TO APPLY

What Works Cities Certification is open to all U.S. cities with a population of 30,000 or more. Certified cities are announced annually, and any cities that do not initially qualify can reapply every year. Cities earning Certification must reapply, at a minimum, every three years to maintain Certification status.

If your city is interested in learning more about What Works Cities Certification, we invite you to fill out the form below. Please contact certification@whatworkscities.org with any questions.

STATE YOUR INTEREST