Charter school: Enroll here, get a free Nintendo DSi [View all]
(Heads up, if you hit the link, there's a video of the story that plays automatically. Irritating.)
http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/277603/8/Charter-school-Enroll-here-get-a-free-Nintendo-DSi
The Manatee School of Arts & Sciences is offering a free Nintendo DSi to families who sign their children up this week. The deadline coincides with when the state will start surveying schools, deciding funding based on how many students are enrolled. Each additional full-time student earns a school about $6,300, enough to buy about 42 Nintendo DSis.
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Is it a fair way to attract students, or a gimmick? It depends on who you ask.
Manatee County School Board member Julie Aranibar told 10 News off-camera that her biggest concern is that incentives like this could attract families to schools for the wrong reasons.
During the 2011-2012 school year, Manatee School of Arts & Sciences earned a "C" grade from the state based on test scores. The prior school year, the school was given a "D."