Educational leaders are consistently challenged to find innovative ways to
maximize learning outcomes for students. Some of the more recent approaches
aimed at improving student achievement that have emerged in public school
systems involve paying students cash for good grades, attendance and good
behavior. While these financial incentive programs are only a few years in the
making, they have been initiated in many places throughout the U.S . The various programs have been developed with
slightly different specifications and have been given unique names, but they all
entail financially compensating students, many of whom are socioeconomically
disadvantaged.