Youth Cash Transfer Study
The Youth Cash Transfer Study was a 2020-2021 randomized controlled trial run by the Rooted School Foundation, providing unconditional weekly cash payments to 12th-grade students at Rooted School New Orleans. It was designed and evaluated in partnership with researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the University of Pennsylvania, home to the Center for Guaranteed Income Research, and was funded through private philanthropic donations to the nonprofit. The pilot served as the origin point for what later grew into 'The $50 Study,' a much larger multi-city cash transfer research program for high schoolers. Findings from this initial pilot were published in the 'Youth Cash Transfer Study Report' in May 2022.
Students, High School, Education, Youth, Randomized Controlled Trial
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Rooted School Foundation
- City
- New Orleans
- State / Province
- Louisiana
- Country
- United States
Contact
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 20
- Funding type
- Nonprofit, Philanthropic, Research Pilot
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 2,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 222.22 USD
- Payment frequency
- Weekly
- How long the program lasts
- 9 months
- Distribution Type
- Prepaid Debit Card
- Benefit details
Eligible students received $50 per week, delivered via a prepaid debit card, with no restrictions on use. Recipients in the broader program reported spending funds on food, transportation, driver's education, college application fees, and savings. The program's standard design pays participants weekly for about 40 weeks during the school year (roughly $2,000 total per student), though the exact total distributed in this specific 2020-2021 micro-pilot was not independently confirmed. Later phases of the program significantly expanded participant counts and geographic scope.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Participants were required to be 12th-grade (senior) students enrolled at Rooted School New Orleans, a public charter high school. Selection into the 20-student pilot cohort was conducted via a randomized controlled trial design rather than an open public application. No income, family status, or other demographic eligibility criteria were identified in available sources.
Demographics
- Education level
- High School
Geography
- US states covered
- Louisiana
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- New Orleans
- Counties covered
- Orleans Parish
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
Conducted as a randomized controlled trial led by Rooted School Foundation in partnership with researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the University of Pennsylvania (home of the Center for Guaranteed Income Research). Findings were published in the 'Youth Cash Transfer Study Report' (May 2022), covering reduced financial hardship, enhanced financial capability, improved school attendance, and improved ability to meet basic needs among recipients.
Application Process
- Selection process
Participants were selected via a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design among eligible 12th-grade students at Rooted School New Orleans, in partnership with researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the University of Pennsylvania.
