A D.C. charter school is putting money in kids’ pockets in the hopes they will come to class and do better academically.
Digital Pioneers Academy partnered with The $50 Study, a national initiative, to give money to 40 seniors — no strings attached.
The students, who were randomly selected for the pilot program, get $50 every week for 40 weeks. In all, they’ll each receive $2,000.
School officials hope the study will boost attendance, something schools across the country have struggled with since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Post-pandemic, it’s been a struggle for everyone to get kids back into school. So we put a lot of incentives, work hard, play hard, attendance matters,” Digital Pioneers Academy CEO Mashea Ashton said.
The money is loaded onto a debit card, and students use an app to track their spending. Students also learn about saving, budgeting and investing.
“I think about it as an opportunity. I learned, like, how it is like a gift,” student Jada Faulkner said.
Faulkner said she’s saved some of the money and helped others, too.
“Recently, I had bought Thanksgiving food for my family. I kind of helped out a little bit. I used it on my senior pictures outfit. I gave some money to my siblings if they need it,” she said.
“Right now I’m saving for senior pictures, senior trip … all the senior activities,” student Fred McRoy said.
The program is in partnership with the Rooted School Foundation, a nonprofit organization encompassing several public charter schools. The foundation said The $50 Study has been shown to improve attendance and financial discipline.
“I think kids feel more empowered, and it’s connected to if you show up, you work hard, you play hard, you have more choices. So I do think it has a positive impact,” Ashton said.
“I’m going to get my mom something nice for Christmas,” McRoy said.
Funding for the program is supported through the nonprofit Education Forward DC.
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