Anaheim Schools Drop "Inappropriate" Incentive Plan

Anaheim - The Anaheim Union High School District has stopped an incentive program designed to motivate students to improve state test scores by having high scoring students carry different colored binders and stand in different lunch lines than lower scoring students.

The Orange County Register reported Thursday that the state Department of Education had criticized the program as inappropriate and a violation of student privacy laws.

Under the system, which was entering its second year, students who scored "basic" received a white binder and school ID card; those scoring "proficient" received gold, while those scoring "advanced" received black.

Gold and black gave students a range of special privileges and discounts, while students with white cards had to stand in a separate lunch line.

Students and parents had protested the policy, saying it embarrassed students.

In a statement, the district said in light of the complaints, administrators would come up with a different incentive policy and all students would be issued with uniform binders and ID cards, free of charge.

"We recognize that some students have negatively interpreted some components of the program," the statement said. "Therefore, we are modifying some aspects to address those concerns and ensure that all students feel supported on campus."

Parents praised the move.

"I was hoping that this would be the outcome, that they would see confidentiality is important for the students," said mother Carol Lopp.

Cypress High School Principal Ben Carpenter said he did not believe the system violated privacy laws because students could obtain a gold card for improving their scores, even if they scored only basic.