A New Incentive System at Hettie Halstead Elementary School

By Todd A. Ward, PhD, BCBA-D

Founding Editor, bSci21.org

The Killeen Daily Herald recently reported on the success of a new incentive program at Hettie Halstead Elementary School, in Copperas Cove, Texas.

The program utilizes “Bulldawg Bucks” and resembles the commonly used “token economies” of Applied Behavior Analysis.  The Herald noted “the students are given over 10 opportunities to earn Bulldawg Bucks for exemplary behavior each school day.”  The students can then exchange their earnings for a variety of preferred items and activities.

For example, the recent back-to-school dance came with a twist this year.  Students could attend the dance contingent on their first earning 40 Bulldawg Bucks.  Students Danisha Triplett and Melissa Jackson were quoted as saying that “it is a cool new reward system and we think we are going to like it a lot.”

Students sure enjoyed the dance.

Be sure to check out the original article and let us know what you think about the incentive system in the comments below!  Also consider subscribing to bSci21 via email to receive the latest articles directly to your inbox.

Todd A. Ward, PhD, BCBA-D is President of bSci21 Media, LLC, which owns bSci21.org and BAQuarterly.com.  Todd serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management and as an editorial board member for Behavior and Social Issues.  He has worked as a behavior analyst in day centers, residential providers, homes, and schools, and served as the director of Behavior Analysis Online at the University of North Texas.  Todd’s areas of expertise include writing, entrepreneurship, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Instructional Design, Organizational Behavior Management, and ABA therapy. Todd can be reached at [email protected].