Students Get $50 A Week For Attending School—But There's A Catch

Oakland students are getting $50 a week just for showing up to class, and it sounds like the kind of fix you wish every school could pull off overnight.

But this is Oakland Unified School District, where Kevin “AJ” Goines has watched absenteeism get pushed by real-life problems like bus fare and winter jackets, not a lack of interest. Families can’t always solve those barriers on their own, so the program steps in with cash support to keep students in their seats. Still, there’s a catch nobody can ignore, because paying for attendance can turn school into a transaction, even when the goal is education.

Now the district is seeing absenteeism drop by 50%, and the question is whether the win is worth the trade-off.

Students from the Oakland Unified School District have been receiving $50 a week as an incentive to attend school.

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Goines put it plainly, some students miss school because they literally don’t have money for the bus or the right jacket for the weather.

Kevin 'AJ' Goines, who supports high school students with academic and emotional challenges, also highlighted how the financial incentive helps address practical issues contributing to absenteeism. Goines noted that for some students, barriers like the lack of bus fare or proper winter clothing can prevent them from attending school regularly.

The program helps alleviate these obstacles and keeps students focused on their education by providing financial support.

"There are some families and students where there are huge barriers causing their truancy. They would say, ‘I don’t have money for the bus’ or, in some cases, ‘I don’t have a proper jacket, and it’s cold and it’s raining.’ Those were the things that we just didn’t have answers for," said Kevin 'AJ' Goines.

That’s where the $50 weekly incentive comes in, turning basic logistics into something the district can actually cover.

Offering financial incentives for school attendance can be a double-edged sword. Incentives can lead students to attend for the wrong reasons, creating a transactional relationship with education.

This is just like the AITA where a neighbor’s cats kept putting my dog at risk, after enforcing pet rules.

The school district reported that absenteeism has decreased by 50%.

After two years of implementation, the program's results have been promising. The Oakland Unified School District reported a significant reduction in absenteeism, with attendance rates improving by 50%. This success underscores the potential of financial incentives to enhance school participation and academic engagement.

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Then comes the tricky part, the attendance boost could make learning feel like a paycheck instead of a priority.

This program's funding comes from a $200,000 grant provided by Education First, a national education policy organization. The Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and the NoVo Foundation have contributed additional financial support.

This financial backing demonstrates a commitment to exploring innovative solutions to longstanding educational challenges. Paying students to attend school represents a creative approach to overcoming barriers to education.

This program seeks to improve attendance rates and ensure that students have the opportunity to succeed academically by addressing practical and motivational issues. As this initiative continues to evolve, it could offer valuable insights into practical strategies for promoting regular school attendance and supporting students facing significant challenges.

Even with that risk, the district reported a 50% drop in absenteeism after rolling it out for two years with grant funding.

Improving student attendance remains a pressing issue, particularly in underserved communities where challenges abound. The innovative $50 weekly payment program in California may offer a short-term incentive to boost attendance, but it is critical to recognize that fostering a deeper, intrinsic motivation among students is vital for sustainable improvement. While financial rewards can attract students to the classroom, the real goal should be to instill a genuine appreciation for learning that extends beyond monetary gain. Schools must explore additional strategies that cultivate a passion for education and resilience, ensuring students are motivated to attend not just for the paycheck, but for the opportunities and knowledge that education provides for their futures.

Fifty dollars got them back in class, but it also raised the question of what school is supposed to be for.

For a wild family money fight, read about the AITA where someone asked parents to cover vacation costs.