There’s been some buzz about Paid for Grades on FOX13 Tampa Bay.
FOX13 Tampa Bay is a well-known news station covering local stories, weather, and investigations from their base in Tampa. They’re recognized for giving the community news that’s both timely and meaningful.
The program, Paid for Grades, has a clear goal: to motivate students by rewarding them financially for better academic performance. Research has shown that such financial incentives can boost how well students do in school, and that’s exactly what Paid for Grades aims to achieve.
Our initiative specifically targets ninth graders from four high schools in Pinellas County, including Boca Ciega, Lakewood, East Lake, and Hollins High Schools. As covered in the reports, students are offered money for improving their grades, helping them realize their own strength and path to success.
Jaylon Scurly, one of the students who benefited from the program, shared that participating involves a lot of commitment and requires prioritizing study time over personal time. Since launching in 2013, the program has seen hundreds of students participate, with Chargebacks911, a main sponsor, contributing over $1.5 million to help students and schools.
Monica Eaton, who founded Paid for Grades, stated that even making a difference in one student’s life could have a ripple effect across generations. Her ultimate aim is to inspire self-confidence and create real change in students’ lives. “If you change the life of one student, that has such an amazing effect, it could change the life of an entire generation,” she expressed.
Watch the full new feature below to see the program in action: