Many teenagers believe that going to school is like a job, and they should get a paycheck for it. In D.C. public schools that might just be a possibility. Recent dropout trends and disastrous test results for several D.C. middle schools (the passing rate on a standard level math exam was 8%), has inspired D.C. school officials to find other means of motivation, including payment for performance.
According to Jennifer Calloway, a DC school administrator, only fourteen middle schools will be participating, the other fourteen not getting paid will act as a control group. At the end of the school year they will be able to see if the achievement increased. It will cost approximately two million dollars to fund this program; half of the money will be coming from Harvard and the other half will come from the D.C. public school system, so the schools will not be losing money.
If parents don't want their children to participate, they have the option of opting them out. Participating students will receive about one hundred dollars a month. The idea came from New York City, where the public schools had a similar program to provide incentive for the students.
However, despite the positive effects that this program could possibly have on the students, the issue is quite controversial. According to a poll in a DC Wire article, 70% of people said that it would be a bad idea, and only 27% thought that it would help.
Government teacher, Ms. Russo, said that the idea is "interesting and has some good and bad aspects about it. It can help model life and the real world and is a positive incentive for the students and a way for them to get rewarded instead of punished."
Regardless of the success or the appeal of this program in D.C., Mount Vernon is not likely to adopt it. Mrs. King explained, "DC public schools are having so many issues with dropouts and they need to do whatever they can to try and fix the problem."
Incentive programs are not unheard of. Other schools, including Mt. Vernon, have also done things in the past to promote good behavior.
Last year Mrs. King gave out itune cards every few weeks to encourage students to show up to class on time. She also rewarded students who were never tardy with Italian Ices last spring.
While the idea works well in the abstract, there is some uncertainty about its practicality. Ms. Russo explained that some kids live in the moment and don't think of the future. She also explained that teenagers' brains are not fully developed yet, so who's to say that they won't go through middle school for the money, and still drop out in high school? Another problem is that there is little evidence that this plan will work.
