Educational leaders are consistently challenged to find innovative ways to maximize learning outcomes for students. Some of the more recent approaches aimed at improving student achievement that have emerged in public school systems involve paying students cash for good grades, attendance and good behavior. While these financial incentive programs are only a few years in the making, they have been initiated in many places throughout the U.S . The various programs have been developed with slightly different specifications and have been given unique names, but they all entail financially compensating students, many of whom are socioeconomically disadvantaged.