Standards with incentives work in many organizations including business and universities. Because they expect later compensation in money and prestige, ambitious college students strive for academic performance. Students hope to be recruited by a major corporation or for admission to a top graduate or professional school. It seems a good time to raise the question whether incentivized standards can work in schools as they do in much of the rest of society. Some have been disappointed with the results of past educational reforms.
Schools make little use of effective incentives to achieve desired goals and outcomes.
A 1996 Public Agenda national survey of high school students showed that three-fourths believe that more challenging standards would make students pay more attention to their studies. Three-fourths also said students who have not mastered English should not graduate, and a similar percentage said schools should promote only students who master the material. Almost two-thirds reported they could do much better in school if they tried. Nearly 80 percent said students would learn more if schools made sure they were on time and did their homework. More than 70 percent said schools should require after-school classes for those earning D's and F's.