Paying kids to come to class: One school's 'last-ditch' plan

A Cincinnati high school is giving seniors $25 a week to simply show up on time and stay out of trouble. Will that really work?

Education pays: In Cincinnati, one high school is rewarding students for just showing up, to the tune of hundreds of dollars a year.
(Image credit: Darren Greenwood/Design Pics/Corbis)

Dohn Community High School, a charter school in Cincinnati, Ohio, is throwing money at its sizable truancy problem. Starting this week, seniors who have perfect attendance, show up on time, participate in class, and stay out of trouble will be rewarded each week with a $25 Visa gift card; underclassmen will get $10 for each perfect week, and every time a student earns a card, they'll also get $5 deposited in an account payable upon graduation. Here, a look at Dohn's controversial, "last-ditch" effort to keep kids in school:

Why is Dohn paying kids to attend class?

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