Education Week offers this thought-provoking article on cash incentives for AP test scores. While this is a little bit smaller than the scope of most incentive or merit-pay programs, it is an interesting case study that may offer some lessons as we look at what works, what it fair, and what we cam employ to bring education and teaching standards up across the board. A study by Cornell Professor Kirabo Jackson shows that AP test participation rose when a $500 incentive was offered, which is not groundbreaking in and of itself. Common sense would tell us that.
Yet Mr. Jackson said the main spur for the score jumps at the schools in Texas’ Advanced Placement Incentive Program, or APIP, didn’t seem to be cash.
“I can’t say conclusively if it was or it wasn’t, but what I heard from guidance counselors was … that it changed the culture of the school,” he said.
Suddenly, for example, AP classes were no longer seen as cripplingly uncool, he said, but a way to buy a new iPod.
A 4 or 5 on AP tests can usually be used as a college credit, but saving intangible amount of money on college as a reward for studying and taking an hours-long test does not necessarily compute for many high school students. And if they don’t get a 4 or 5, they come out behind in the money game if not the experience game.
A cash incentive will certainly increase participation. But is it worth it? According to Education Week’s article, possibly so! SAT and ACT scores also increased by a similar percentage as the participation, as well as increased college enrollment.
Hopefully as Missouri looks at merit pay and incentives to raise test scores, a broad look at was is working across the country will help narrow the concept and produce some excellent results.
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