Union President Joanne Demarco says she's intrigued by the idea of giving students a financial incentive to do well in school. While it's too early, she says, for any formal proposal, she's hoping school officials and union members will have a discussion about whether financial incentives could help boost test scores and attendance. Some of the possibilities include cash handouts, gift cards, or raffles.
Demarco does concede that such a proposal would be met with opposition from many in the education community.
Joanne Demarco: Oh my goodness! Now we're going to pay kids, what have we become? And yet, there's a way to massage the idea and come up with something that might work.
Paying for student performance is not a new idea. Schools in Coshocton, Ohio have reported some success with financial incentives for students. And, starting with a pilot program this fall, some students in New York City schools could earn as much as $500 in a year for good marks on exams. Dan Bobkoff, 90.3.