Does motivating students to study harder with the promise of cash sound like innovation--or bribery? That's a question educators and researchers have been debating, amid concerns that money-for-achievement programs actually decrease students' intrinsic motivation to learn and send mixed messages about studying. But the idea is catching on, with new cash-incentive programs planning to give money to students this school year in the Baltimore school district and some schools in an Atlanta suburb. The program is especially geared to students who may not be able to take advantage of after-school tutoring programs because of financial needs that require them to have jobs. This is a way to reimburse them for missing that work.