Pinellas County high school students are getting a financial incentive to improve their grades.

  • Pinellas students 'Get Paid for Grades' in new program
  • Program to motivate, support, improve student learning
  • 96 students improved reading comprehension 

A non-profit dished out more than $70,000 to students who completed the ‘Get Paid for Grades’ program.

The goal is to motivate, support, and improve student learning.

Soon-to-be sophomore, Jamie Harkins, said the money was definitely a motivating factor, but her biggest take away was the pride she felt knowing she improved herself.

Harkins is a student at Clearwater High School and already has a busy schedule as a writer and an athlete. However, that didn’t stop her from adding one more challenge last school year.

Harkins is one of 54 Pinellas County high school students who completed the ‘Get Paid for Grades’ program.

The program consists of a practice test, a dozen self-directed online modules, and a final test to assess students’ reading levels post-program.

“In the beginning they had you take like a practice test and you really need to do good on it, even though it’s a practice test, because it helps them understand what they need to teach you,” Harkins said.

Every student who improved their reading by at least one grade level and met attendance requirements received a big reward.

Harkins will be honored with about 20 of her classmates, each of them receiving $500 for their hard work and dedication.

“Yeah, it was very motivating. I’m not going to lie, the money was definitely what pushed me to go after school, because of the sports it wore me out, it really helped me work for a goal to get it all finished and feel good that I did something like that,” Harkins said.

She said she plans on putting most of the money away in savings and will spend some of it taking her family to do something fun, as a thank you for their support throughout the school year.

In total, 96 Pinellas County students improved their reading comprehension and 66 students improved their reading level by at least one grade, by participating in the ‘Get Paid for Grades’ program.