1. A Little Now for a Lot Later.
- Author
-
Jackson, C. Kirabo
- Subjects
ADVANCED placement programs (Education) ,GRADING of students ,EDUCATIONAL tests & measurements ,REWARDS & punishments in education ,LOW-income students ,MINORITY students ,TARGETED instruction ,INCENTIVE awards - Abstract
I analyze a program implemented in Texas schools serving underprivileged populations that pays both students and teachers for passing grades on Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. Using a difference-in-differences strategy, I find that program adoption is associated with increased AP course and exam taking, increases in the number of students with high SAT/ACT scores, and increases in college matriculation. The rewards don 7 appear to distort behaviors in undesirable ways, and I present evidence that teachers and students were not simply maximizing rewards. Guidance counselors credit the improvements to greater AP access, changes in social norms towards APs, and better student information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF