ERIC Number: ED539172
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Sep-15
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Pay for Grades
Johnston, Howard
Education Partnerships, Inc.
The practice of paying students to earn good grades either in class or on standardized achievement tests has touched off a storm of controversy. Praised by some educators as a way of linking economic rewards to school performance, it is being tested in a number of large cities, such as New York, Baltimore and Chicago, as well as some smaller communities, such as Macon, Georgia. In addition to citing numerous practical impediments, critics claim it is nothing more than a bribe that demeans both the students and the academic process. Research on the subject is sparse, and the results are mostly mixed. However, according to researchers and leaders in districts that are experimenting with the concept, there is sufficient evidence to continue to refine and extend the program judiciously. The bottom line is that, in the absence of conclusive evidence, the controversy is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. (Contains 9 online resources.)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Evidence, Achievement Tests, Rewards, Incentive Grants, Social Exchange Theory, Program Effectiveness, Achievement Need, Educational Resources
Education Partnerships, Inc. Web site: http://www.educationpartnerships.org
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Education Partnerships, Inc. (EPI)
Identifiers - Location: Georgia; Maryland; New York
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A