‘$50 study’ program expansion coming to New Orleans this fall
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, several students enrolled at Rooted High school were falling behind academically and struggling financially.
At the time, Jonathan Johnson was the executive director and said some of the students were skipping school entirely.
“Students weren’t showing up to school, and when we pressed on the reasons why, many of them had to take up extra shifts to help make ends meet at home,” said Johnson.
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With help from a small team providing funds and community partners, a micro pilot study was launched. Twenty students were involved, with 10 of those students receiving $50 once a week for 40 weeks. All 20 were being surveyed throughout.
“Students generally reported a decrease in financial hardship. So, families were saying they could meet rent and lease payments on time. They were doing better academically. So, we were seeing evidence that they were going to school with more GPAs were increasing and they were having what we call a more positive sense of their self,” said Johnson.
Researchers determined that 47% of the students saved their money, indicating they were being strategic with their cash. Meanwhile, a majority of the money spent was to meet basic needs. According to Johnson, 50% of the money went to groceries and food, while 20% went to transportation.
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“We even heard stories of students using the money to pay for college applications and college tours. We have students who use the money to teach their siblings about how to manage their own money,” said Johnson.
Come November, the program will be expanding to 1,600 students across 12 schools, with nearly 800 getting a $50 weekly payment.
“Then after the 40 weeks of payment are over, will be following the students into their sort of early post-secondary lives. Some that go to college, some they do other things,” said Johnson.
The idea of $50 a week came from a study done by the Russell Sage Foundation, showing if families got up to $250 more a month, child poverty could be reduced exponentially, if not eliminated entirely.
“All funding has been private. So, a number of foundations locally or nationally have been involved. For the expanded study that we’re doing in partnership with the city. It‘ll be a hybrid of private and governmental funds with the city providing the anchor to kind of get it started,” Johnson said.
For more information, visit The $50 Study website.
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