Ohio lawmakers propose paying students to attend school and graduate | FOX Business
Ohio state lawmakers are making a bold move to tackle chronic absenteeism in schools while giving students a fresh incentive to attend classes. Representatives Bill Seitz and Dani Isaacsohn have introduced bipartisan legislation that could launch a pilot program in the 2024-25 school year. This program, overseen by the State Department of Education and Workforce, aims to reward kindergarten and ninth-grade students with high attendance rates.
To participate in this pilot program, schools across the state must express interest by applying to the department, with each district allowed to submit two schools for enrollment. Based on recent report cards, the department will prioritize at least one rural and one urban school, with all selected schools required to demonstrate chronic absenteeism in the highest quartile.
The unique aspect of this program is that it will operate as a pilot, with 50% of students receiving cash rewards while the other 50% serve as the control group. Every other week, the department will grant $25 cash transfers to participating ninth graders and the parents or guardians of kindergarten students who maintain a 90% or higher attendance rate. At the end of each quarter, those with a 90% or higher attendance rate will receive $150; at the end of the school year, students within this attendance range will receive a total of $500.
In addition to this attendance incentive program, lawmakers are also proposing a graduation incentive pilot program, which rewards high school students from select schools in the 2024-25 academic year. This program aims to boost graduation rates and provides students $250 for graduating from select schools and up to $750 for those with high GPAs. Currently, the bill is under review by a House committee………
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How might initiatives like Ohio’s attendance and graduation incentive programs impact the overall educational landscape and the prospects of students? What role does incentivizing attendance and academic achievement play in shaping a region’s economy and the lives of its citizens?
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Initiatives like Ohio’s attendance and graduation incentive programs can positively impact the overall educational landscape by motivating students to attend regularly and excel academically. Incentivizing attendance and achievement can contribute to a skilled workforce, potentially boosting a region’s economy through a more educated and qualified labor pool. Additionally, improved educational outcomes can enhance the overall well-being and opportunities for citizens in the long run.
Even though $25 isn’t a lot of money, it can still help low-income families pay for supplies and other thigs.
Initiatives like the ones in Ohio could have a bad effect on students because students may not want to go to school for anything else but to be paid, so when they move on and don’t get paid for school, they may lose the want to go and not finish out their education.
It gives students more incentives as to why they would want to attend and succeed in school, which would result in a more skilled and intelligent workforce for Ohio in the future