School's almost out, so it's time to roll out the limo rides, trips to camp, pizza parties and carnivals to reward the good kids.
But do the treats really help motivate students to behave and to achieve?
Local educators, students and an education expert said the programs are a success. One national critic said the programs are ineffective bribes.
St. Clair County Regional Superintendent of Schools Brad Harriman said the research he has done indicates that it pays to reward kids.
"Rewards work, especially when it comes to attendance," Harriman said. "And, in most cases, improved attendance results in improved grades."
Regional Office of Education truant officer Solomon Butler, who owns Butler Limousine as a side business, said he decided to combine his two jobs and offer kids who improved their grades, got straight As or had perfect attendance a limousine ride to tour the district office in Belleville followed by a free lunch.
"I think if kids get a little something back when they do the right thing that it helps them to take the next step," Butler said.
Kenya Jones, a freshman at East St. Louis High School, said she was getting bad grades and hanging out with the wrong crowd before she got things turned around and got on the right path, which earned her spot on the Thursday limo ride.
"I would try to do the right thing even if there weren't rewards for doing it," Kenya said. "But it's nice to see that if you do good things that good things will happen to you."
Freshman Donavon Taylor saw a more direct connection between rewards and his success. At the start of the school year, his grades were suffering. But he got caught up in the excitement of a competition between algebra classes at East St. Louis High School.
His teacher said whichever of her four classes had the highest cumulative grade would win a pizza party. He worked overtime with his teacher and classmates to get his grades up in algebra, then used his new study habits to improve his marks in the rest of his classes.
Frances Karanovich, an assistant professor of educational leadership at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, said that in most cases, the rewards work to encourage students to behave.
The exceptions include children who have been identified through individualized education programs as having discipline issues, said Karanovich, who has more than 30 years experience as a teacher, principal and superintendent. She said different goals may be set for those students to achieve.
"I have seen this end-of-the-year kind of reward system used in more than one state and in all grade levels, and consistently, it works," she said.
She said the incentives work best when students are reminded often of the reward.
"Those plans are most effective when you are nearer the end of the school year and students get a little bit of spring fever ... it is a carrot to encourage and then reward behavior," she said. "It's not a gotcha."
Bob Schaeffer, public education director for the watchdog group Fair and Open Testing, has examined the incentive programs used to encourage students to do well on standardized tests as well as reward teachers of those students who perform well.
"The problem with these kinds of bribes is, what happens when they no longer are available?" he asked. "Will students only behave well when they're paid?
"Once they move onto college or to life and there is no pay for performance, will they be able to maintain the appropriate behavior without the incentive?"
At Highland Middle School, Principal Jeanie Probst said quarterly field trips for students who meet character education goals reward students in the form of going to see a movie, bowling or an ice cream social.
The principles students work toward achieving include responsibility, respect and self control.
"They all know those criteria ahead of time," Probst said.
Students who do not meet their goals remain in class to catch up on school work.
"I think it encourages them to do what they should do as good students," she said. "We look at it as it helps them make better choices."
Contact reporter Maria Baran at mbaran@bnd.com or 239-2460. Contact Scott Wuerz at swuerz@bnd.com or 239-2626.
