Paying students to learn?

Now I've heard everything.

The Reading School District is considering spending $16,400 on "incentives" for high school students to score higher grades on state tests, according to the Reading Eagle.

The Reading School Board is expected to vote on the measure tonight.

Board member Pierre V. Cooper, chairman of the curriculum committee, told the newspaper that the committee has come up with programs to encourage students to score at proficient levels on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests.

Among the suggestions are for the district to pay for prom tickets for juniors who score at proficient levels and T-shirts for students, the newspaper says.

Is this what our education system has come down to? We have to bribe students to do well? What's next? Paying students cash to attend school?