KC district considers paying students to boost test scores

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The superintendent of Kansas City schools wants to pay students to boost their scores on Missouri's standardized tests.

Under a $239,250 proposal presented to the school board Wednesday, Kansas City students would receive a reward valued between $20 and $80, depending on their results on state tests given in spring in six grades. Schools could receive $2,000 each.

School district officials initially proposed giving students cash. Superintendent Bernard Taylor Jr. said Wednesday night that no final decision had been made, but he was considering proposing tickets to Worlds of Fun or certificates for books.

National education experts say they know of no major school district that offers money to motivate students to raise their scores. Experts are divided on the approach, and some state lawmakers castigated the idea.

"There are plenty of districts who are getting (better) results, and this is not on their lists," said Kati Haycock, director of the Education Trust, an education advocacy group. "You go to what is proven, especially when you don't have a lot of money."

The school board's Education Committee will discuss Taylor's proposal Wednesday, and the board will vote on it March 26.

Taylor said the incentives for test scores would motivate students to do better. With higher scores, the district could gain full state accreditation. It currently has provisional accreditation.

'Always a good idea'

"It is always a good idea to have an incentive. I know some people will criticize it," board president Al Mauro said. "It is no different than paying kids allowances."

State Rep. Jane Cunningham, a St. Louis County Republican and chairwoman of the House Education Committee, said that while she applauds the goal of increasing student achievement, Taylor's proposal is ridiculous, especially during tough budget times.

"I am just outraged. I just cannot even imagine spending $239,250. Where are people's brains?" she said. "To take that out of the taxpayers' hide is inappropriate."

Cunningham said offering incentives could hurt Kansas City's efforts to stave off state education cuts.

Taylor proposed paying for the incentives with funds for impoverished students from the U.S. Department of Education. But federal and state education officials said that would violate federal law.

When told about the federal restriction, Taylor said state funds or donations could be used instead. The district used state funds to buy $435,000 in gift certificates to reward attendance in summer school.

Test scores have declined or been flat, particularly at the middle and high school level, during the two years Taylor has served as superintendent.

Jay Heubert, an associate professor of education at Columbia University's Teachers College, said superintendents, principals and teachers across the country receive bonuses for test scores without any controversy. He commended Kansas City for taking an innovative approach.

"We don't have a clear system of rewards for kids," he said. "Our idea of motivation seems to be a stick, not the carrot. ... No one seems to think that it is wrong to reward adults." Jack Jennings, director of the Center on Education Policy, a Washington-based think tank, disagreed.

"It is in effect trying to bribe kids to do better on tests. This is putting cash on the barrel head," he said. "It shows the desperation on the part of school officials."