Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Details on NYC's Cash Incentives Program
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 19, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 19, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The city's deputy mayor of health and human services Linda Gibbs announced some details of how the cash-incentives-to-the-poor program will work yesterday. Students (whose schools participate in the program and whose families meet the critieria) would get $25/month for at least 95% elementary school attendance and 50%/month at the high school level, $600 for each of the five Regents exams passed, $300 for taking 11 high school credits a year, $50 for getting a library card and $50 for taking the PSAT. Additionally, some families will qualify for $150/month for working 30 hours a week and $600 for every 140 hours of job training.
The Times also notes that the DOE hired Harvard professor Roland Fryer as its "chief equality officer." Fryer has studied racial inequality in public schools and the Daily News excerpted some emails that Fryer (then a consultant to the city) sent principals a few weeks ago explaining incentives to school children: "Every kid gets an incentive just for taking each assessment; $5 for fourth graders and $10 for seventh graders...For each correct answer, students earn an additional reward. All students will earn something, but those that perform better will earn more."
The NY Sun spoke to conservative and "left-leaning" think tanks analysts who questioned the program. And though Darwin Davis, the president of the Urban League, told the Times, "I’m willing to say let’s see what works. We are in a capitalist society and people are motivated by money across race and across class, so why not?”, he wondered aloud "how many tests students would need to pass to buy the latest video game."
The city announced the "conditional cash transfer" program, Opportunity NYC, in March, which is similar to ones in Mexico and Brazil; its goal is to help break the cycle of poverty, and will tap into $53 million of private funds (partially donated by the Rockefeller, Starr, and other foundations and companies as well as Mayor Bloomberg himself). Back then, our readers' reactions were mixed. What do you think of the program now?
Graphic from the city's Center of Economic Opportunity
Tagged
bloomberg
children
daily news
Economic Opportunity
free
Free Polls
harvard
health
high school
library
mayor
mayor bloomberg
money
news
News: NYC
ny sun
nyc
people
poll
polls
poverty
race
schools
Take Our Poll
the city
The NY
The NY Sun
The Program
the times
video
video game
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress
A primer on the races for governor, attorney general and the congressional districts that could help determine control of the U.S. House.
By
Walter Wuthmann
,
Jon Campbell
and
Brigid Bergin
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .