NYT: Next Question: Can Students Be Paid to Excel?

Front page NYT story on paying students for test scores. Focuses on the Bloomberg initiative thought up by Chief Equality Officer and Harvard economist Roland Fryer of paying students $50 for good test scores.

The fourth graders squirmed in their seats, waiting for their prizes. In a few minutes, they would learn how much money they had earned for their scores on recent reading and math exams. Some would receive nearly $50 for acing the standardized tests, a small fortune for many at this school, P.S. 188 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

When the rewards were handed out, Jazmin Roman was eager to celebrate her $39.72. She whispered to her friend Abigail Ortega, “How much did you get?” Abigail mouthed a barely audible answer: $36.87. Edgar Berlanga pumped his fist in the air to celebrate his $34.50.