Chicago to Try Cash-for-Grades Program

Chicago education leaders say they are prepared to offer some 5,000 high school freshmen citywide cash for grades to improve students’ educational efforts.

Chicago Public Schools chief executive Arne Duncan said the “Green for Grade$” program will begin Thursday at 20 public high schools across the city and will offer lower-income students help in their studies and financial situation, the Chicago Tribune said.

“The majority of our students don’t come from families with a lot of economic wealth. I’m always trying to level the playing field,” Duncan said. “This is the kind of incentive that middle-class families have had for decades.”

The Chicago Sun-Times said the program, which originated at Harvard University’s Education Laboratory, will offer the freshmen $50 for an A, $35 for a B and C’s will earn them $20 a piece.

The payments, half of which will be made every five weeks and the other when the student graduates, only apply to the subjects of math, English, science, physical education and social science.