Paying students for test score improvement

Baltimore City Schools are spending over $6 million to improve student scores on the state’s High School Assessment’s exam. Almost a million of that will be spent on paying students who improve their test scores. State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick approved the plan but with reservations about the lack of research on the issue - which will require city school officials to monitor results.

Students who fail at least one test will receive $25 for improving scores by 5%, $35 more dollars for improving their scores an additional 15%, and for improving their scores another 20% they will get $50 more dollars. The maximum amount paid per student will be $100. Critics of the plan have called it bribery.

City Schools CEO Andres Alonso previously worked for New York City Schools, where an incentive program pays students up to $500 for good attendance and test scores. That program has been fairly controversial and it uses private funding sources. Baltimore will use public funds from a settlement over a federal audit dispute.