Philly schools are offering to pay students to retake state algebra exams they failed

https://www.reddit.com/r/education/comments/1ido6pn/philly_schools_are_offering_to_pay_students_to/

created by myeasyking on 30/01/2025 at 14:29 UTC*

28 upvotes, 13 top-level comments (showing 13)

School systems are getting so desperate to increase math scores, they actually will pay students.

Good move or not?

https://www.inquirer.com/education/failed-keystone-exams-philadelphia-algebra-20250122.html

Comments

Comment by SignorJC at 30/01/2025 at 15:09 UTC

42 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I guess we’ll do spend money on literally anything besides hire more teachers and create systems that allow parents to care for their children and value school.

Comment by kcl97 at 30/01/2025 at 16:07 UTC

19 upvotes, 1 direct replies

They need to attach the condition that they will only pay if passed.

Comment by Akiraooo at 31/01/2025 at 01:41 UTC

6 upvotes, 1 direct replies

How about failing the students if they don't pass the state test. It's cheaper and will motivate.

Comment by cookus at 30/01/2025 at 15:50 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Do the test scores have any immediate impact on the students? Does the payment connect with the score, i.e. higher score = more $? One of the biggest problems with testing is a misalignment of incentives. The scores don't tell us anything if they have no impact on the test taker.

Comment by BobSanchez47 at 30/01/2025 at 21:13 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

You can get paid for deliberately failing the exam the first time, retaking it, and passing? This is clearly a stupid system.

Comment by ElectricPaladin at 30/01/2025 at 22:46 UTC

8 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I'll be honest with you... as a teacher, it has always bothered me that state testing is basically extracting labor from the kids for our benefit. Other assessments are part of their education - they are aligned to the instruction, they give their teacher valuable date - but the state tests just benefit the school and the state.

So honestly, I don't mind this. I kind of think that they should all be paid for doing state tests, even the first time. It's labor, not a real part of their education, and labor should be paid for.

Comment by kenmlin at 30/01/2025 at 14:59 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Pay wall.

Comment by Carrente at 31/01/2025 at 11:24 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I mean in the UK you have to pay to retake state exams which always felt to me to embody the idea that a fine only punishes the poor

Comment by Mymusicalchoice at 31/01/2025 at 23:06 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Maybe they can pay me to take them for them.

Comment by Several-Honey-8810 at 30/01/2025 at 23:55 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Can we tell why the educational system is failing?

Comment by majorflojo at 01/02/2025 at 10:46 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

The district knew for years most of their kids were below grade level.

They saw the Gap grow in their state assessment and internal formative assessments over the years

Comment by Complete-Ad9574 at 02/02/2025 at 22:31 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Why not. There is no honor when it comes to fair treatment of all students. Parents with resources will step on and elbow their child's path to the top. They are able to do it in ways which are not always obvious or challenged.

Comment by IHaveALittleNeck at 31/01/2025 at 16:59 UTC

0 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Maybe if they gave me the basic classroom supplies I needed while teaching there, so many students wouldn’t have failed their first time.