It has been in the news recently that Detroit Public Schools Community District is launching for the second year their "Perfect Attendance Pays" initiative for students in their middle and high schools. They have noticed that attendance in the winter months falls off dramatically compared to first semester and the spring months. For every week from January 5th to March 20th (10 weeks), students in middle school can earn a $50 Visa gift card and high school students can earn a $100 Visa gift card PER WEEK for perfect attendance. ANY absence in a week (including disciplinary absences) disqualifies the student from the incentive for that week, but they start over fresh the following week. The corporation is funding this initiative.
If we had absolutely NO financial concerns, I'm not sure I would be in total agreement with this program. It seems to me it encourages kids to attend school even if they are truly sick enough to stay home. We spread enough germs during the winter months as it is. I highly doubt this would be a incentive that we would ever consider if for nothing else it is cost prohibitive. In my research I haven't found any public school in Indiana who offers this incentive.