Passage Two

Teachers have long said that success is its own reward. But these days, some students are finding that good grades can bring them cash and luxury gifts.
In at least a dozen states this school year, students who bring home top marks can expect more than just thankfulness.
The most ambitious experiment began in September, when seven states—Arkansas, Alabama, Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington—won spots in an Mobil-funded program that,in most cases,pays students $100 for each passing grade on advanced placement(AP) college-prep exams.
It’s an effort to get low-income and minority students interested in the courses, says Tommie Sue Anthony, president of the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science. "We still have students who are not sure of the value, who are not willing to take the courses. "she says, "Probably the motivation will make a difference with those students. "
Gregg Fleisher of the National Math and Science Initiative, which runs the seven-state program, says the effort is modeled on a program adopted by Dallas in the 1995—1996 school year that saw AP course-taking jump obviously. That program is now statewide.
While many educators would be against offering kids cash for good grades, Fleisher and others say the idea is simple. "It’s an encouragement to get them to basically make the right decision and choose a more strict class. "he says, "This teaches them that if they work at something very hard and have a lot of support, they can do something they didn’t think they could do. "
An analysis of the Texas program last month by Cornell economist C · Kirabo Jackson found that it linked to a 30% rise in the number of students with high SAT and ACT scores and an 8% rise in college going students.
Which of the following statements is TRUE