Educators and researchers are debating whether motivating students to study harder with the promise of cash borders on bribery is an innovative approach to learning. The idea is however catching on with new US cash-incentive program  in some Baltimore, New York City and Atlanta schools, especially for working students unable to take advantage of afterschool tutoring programs. Baltimore will award 10th and 11th graders who have failed at least one of their state graduation exams $25 if they show a 5% increase on the first of their benchmark assessments, which students take throughout the year. Students are then eligible to earn another $35 if they increase their scores by an additional 1  on the next benchmark assessment, and $50 if they raise their scores by another 20% after that, bringing their total potential earnings to as much as $110 a year. Atlanta’s Learn and Earn Program aims to boost students’ progress and achievement in mathematics and science through cash incentives, allowing them to earn $8 an hour by attending the after-school math and science tutorial sessions for up to four hours a week and bonuses reaching $75 for 8th graders and $125 for 11th graders—if they achieve at least a B average in both courses.

By Staff