District of Columbia: Close of first term brings DC students cash

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Chancellor Michelle Rhee, and Roland Fryer have presented the first Capital Gains award checks to students at Shaw-Garnett-Patterson Middle School. In partnership with Harvard University's Education Innovation Lab, the Capital Gains program is a pilot initiative that provides monetary rewards to middle school students based on their attendance, behavior and academic achievement. __"We're here to celebrate hard-working students who are invested in their education," said Mayor Fenty. "So many times we hear about the negative things our children do; it's exciting to be here to promote the positive." _Launched this year in 15 of the 28 District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) serving the middle grades, Capital Gains is designed to serve as one more tool educators can use to re-engage students and increase their potential to achieve at high levels. Participating schools are:Shaw-Garnett Patterson, Whittier, Browne, Emery, Langdon, Brightwood, Kelly Miller, Burroughs, Hart, Stuart-Hobson, Raymond, Lincoln, Eliot-Hine, Jefferson, Takoma

"With Dr. Fryer and the Innovation Lab's help, we will use this evaluation tool to find more ways to boost student achievement," said Chancellor Rhee. "Short-term incentives are designed to help motivate our students to learn. It's our job to take it a step further."

Each student had the potential to make up to $100 for the first two-week period by attending classes, behaving properly and earning good grades. In total, the students at the participating schools earned $137,813 in awards. The average award across the program was $43. Of the 3,293 students in the program 3,006 earned awards and received checks. Those who did not receive awards this period are still eligible for awards in future periods by improving their behavior, attendance and academic achievement. As students and teachers become more familiar with the program the average amounts are likely to change.

"We must be willing to try new options and new strategies in order to keep students invested in their own education and success," said Dr. Fryer, professor of economics and CEO of the Education Innovation Laboratory at Harvard University.