Ohio lawmakers suggest incentivizing students to attend school by offering them monetary compensation
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Paying Students to Attend School
In the midst of a chronic school absenteeism epidemic, Ohio lawmakers have come up with an innovative solution – paying kids to come to class. An exciting new bill in Ohio aims to pay families $500 a year for each kindergartener or 9th grader who attends school 90% of the time. High school seniors would also receive $250 for graduating, with the potential to earn up to an additional $750 if they maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Sponsored by state Representatives Bill Seitz, a Republican, and Dani Isaacsohn, a Democrat, both from the Cincinnati area, this bipartisan bill is gaining traction. The proposed legislation would create a two-year pilot program, costing approximately $1.5 million, to test the effectiveness of this approach.
“So, we’re going to pick sort of the worst of the worst on attendance and see if we can move the needle,” Seitz told the House Primary & Secondary Education Committee earlier this month.
The pilot program would specifically target schools with low attendance rates, focusing on those most in need of intervention. The goal is to address the alarming increase in school absenteeism, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
“School attendance and absenteeism is probably the number one issue in education today, it is an absolute crisis,” Isaacsohn said.
Recognizing the power of financial incentives, Isaacsohn emphasized the importance of motivating students through monetary rewards. She believes that sometimes people need a gentle push to adopt positive behaviors.
In the Columbus area, approximately half of the students miss 10% or more of the school year, although the situation has improved since the height of the pandemic. Nationally, during the 2022-2023 school year, nearly 10% of K-12 students were absent on an average day, according to preliminary state data reported by The New York Times.
Furthermore, many students are grappling with significant learning loss due to the challenges of remote learning during the pandemic.
“We’ve tried pizza day and we’ve tried playground hours, and we’ve tried all kind of foo-foo stuff,” Seitz said. “Doesn’t seem to work.”
While this proposal has garnered support, it has also faced criticism from some Republicans who argue that it promotes an “entitlement mentality” and that the state should not reward individuals for simply following the law.
“Are we going to get to the point where we’re paying rapists not to rape? Are we really going to start that trend where we’re going to go in and invest to prevent people from committing crimes?” state Representative Josh Williams asked at a committee hearing.
Despite the differing opinions, Ohio lawmakers are determined to tackle the pressing issue of chronic absenteeism and explore innovative strategies to improve student attendance.
What is the goal of the program to incentivize students to attend school regularly and improve academic performance in Ohio?
Ool districts with high rates of chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 18 or more school days in a year. According to the Ohio Department of Education, nearly 15% of students in Ohio are chronically absent, which amounts to approximately 200,000 students.
The goal of this program is twofold – to incentivize students to attend school regularly and to improve academic performance. Research has consistently shown a strong correlation between attendance and academic achievement. Students who are consistently present in the classroom are more likely to succeed academically and graduate on time. Additionally, consistent attendance fosters a sense of responsibility and discipline that can translate into success in other areas of life.
Opponents of the bill argue that paying students to attend school sets a dangerous precedent and teaches them that money is the only motivator for education. However, proponents counter that this program is simply acknowledging the reality that many students face financial barriers and incentives can help alleviate some of those challenges. They argue that by addressing the underlying issue of chronic absenteeism, this program can ultimately promote a positive culture of attendance and academic achievement.
Furthermore, critics point out that this program may create a disparity among students, as some may have more access to resources that enable them to attend school regularly, while others may not. However, the bill proposes that the payment be made directly to the family, not the student, to avoid potential disparities.
One of the potential benefits of this program is that it could also provide valuable data and insights on strategies to address chronic absenteeism. By monitoring the impact of the program on attendance rates and academic performance, policymakers and educators can gather important information on effective interventions.
It is important to note that this program is not intended to replace other efforts to address chronic absenteeism, but rather to complement existing strategies. Schools will still need to focus on creating a positive and engaging learning environment, providing support for students facing challenges outside of school, and fostering strong relationships between students, families, and educators.
If this bill is passed and the pilot program proves successful, Ohio could become a pioneer in the country in addressing chronic absenteeism through financial incentives. It could serve as an example for other states grappling with high rates of absenteeism and struggling to find effective solutions.
While the idea of paying students to attend school may be unconventional, it is an innovative approach to a pressing issue. By considering new strategies and thinking outside the box, lawmakers in Ohio are demonstrating their commitment to improving educational outcomes for all students. With the pilot program scheduled to begin in the fall, Ohio will soon be able to assess the effectiveness of this approach and determine its potential for further implementation.
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