Stay Connected
Receive occasional updates highlighting our initiatives, impact, and opportunities to engage with our work. Stay connected with the latest developments and ways to participate.
September 29, 2025
A cash transfer program is launching at Digital Pioneers Academy (DPA) in DC this fall, marking a groundbreaking approach to student support in the city. Digital Pioneers Academy, a high-performing public charter school serving students primarily from Wards 7 and 8, will provide 40 senior students with $2,000 each over the 2025-2026 school year through The $50 Study initiative.
DPA is the first charter school in Washington, DC, to partner with this national program, facilitated by Rooted School Foundation and supported by Education Forward DC. The student cash transfer program gives participating students $50 per week for 40 weeks via reloadable debit cards, allowing them to manage their own finances while pursuing educational and personal goals.
A randomized controlled trial conducted by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research demonstrated significant impacts on student success. Participants in the DC charter school cash transfer program attended 1.23 more days of school per semester compared to peers without financial support. Students also demonstrated stronger financial capability and planning skills.
Nearly half of student spending (45.8%) went toward essentials like food, followed by education-related expenses and savings. Approximately 52% of students ended the study with money remaining in their accounts, averaging $300 in savings. Students used funds strategically for long-term goals, including ACT prep, dual enrollment coursework, and obtaining driver's licenses.
"Providing students with financial resources and responsibility has the potential to ease economic challenges that pose barriers to success for many DC students furthest from opportunity," said Bisi Oyedele, CEO of Education Forward DC. "We look forward to assessing the impacts of this promising strategy to build on DC's education progress."
The DC charter school cash transfer program represents a data-driven approach to addressing educational opportunity gaps. Rooted School Foundation plans to expand this work across Washington, DC, and to other cities nationwide in the coming years.