The Brief
- 40 D.C. seniors will receive $50 weekly through a new study.
- The program aims to boost wellness, financial skills, and school engagement.
- Students are selected by lottery and paid via debit cards.
WASHINGTON – Some Washington, D.C., high school seniors will receive unconditional weekly cash transfers this fall as part of a study examining the impact on student wellness, financial confidence and academic engagement.
Cash transfers for students
The $50 Study, in partnership with the nonprofit Rooted School Foundation, will provide $50 per week for 40 weeks – totaling $2,000 per student – to 40 seniors at Digital Pioneers Academy in southeast D.C.
Digital Pioneers Academy is a high-performing, tuition-free public charter school serving students primarily from Wards 7 and 8.
Students will opt into the program, with 40 selected through a random lottery. Those chosen will receive the funds via reloadable debit cards.
Study tracks real impact
The $50 Study is backed by a two-year randomized trial conducted by the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research, which showed measurable results, according to Rooted School Foundation.…