Sep 11, 2008 4:48 pm US/Central
Chicago Public Schools To Pay For Good Grades
Straight A's Can Mean Earnings Of $4,000
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
It's money in the bank for high school freshmen in Chicago who get decent grades. Public school officials are offering cash for classroom performance. The pilot program is called "The Paper Project." CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports it's already getting high marks from teens.
In an eager show of hands, freshmen in a World Studies class favored getting paid for grades.
"We have more reason to work hard," said Elijah Okopige, student.
"It'll make me get B's and A's instead of B's and C's," said Jasmine Waters, student.
Because the better grade you get - the more cash in your pocket. Earn an A, get $50. A B gets you $35 and even a C gets you $20. Get straight A's and you could earn $4,000 by the end of the year. You get half up front and the other half when you graduate.
"It helps with the bills, foods, clothing," said Mariah Foster, student.
"They're going to be attracted more to school - less drop out," said Cesar Ayaoa, student.
Keeping kids from dropping out is the goal. Uplift Community High School is one of 20 in this city where freshmen will get paid for their grades. Parents in this Uptown neighborhood applaud the idea.
"I think my kid would do even better if I paid him," said Harmony Canfield, parent.
Psychologist James Garbarino thinks cash can send a bad message to motivated students.
"It's always a risky thing to reward kids for grades," Garbarino said. "If I had been paid, I may have thought the reason I was doing it was for money - not because I love to learn."
Harvard Professor Roland Fryer created the incentive program. He managed to overcome many obstacles, and says even motivated students could use some help.
"I started out with a love of learning personally, but frankly the streets beat it out of me," Fryer said. "It's hard to love learning when you have all these other things around you. It is getting kids on the right path to do the things we want them to do and adding an incentive."
Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan says the program is an incentive, not bribery as some have called it. He said the program is intended to discourage failure and to encourage kids to graduate.
School officials will pay for the program with a $5 million grant. They're also looking to raise another $2 million from private donors. If the program is a success, they will add more schools and pay more students.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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