Performance Funding: Exam Results, Stakes, and Washback in Danish Schools

High-stakes testing is meant to create a positive washback effect on student learning. Performance funding can raise stakes. However, it not often used, and its uncertain. The purpose of this paper examine performance-funding programs based students’ exam results. We study principals’ perceptions interpretations how influenced stakes effects the exit exams. For that purpose, we selected four schools theoretical sampling criteria. empirical data comprise semi-structured interviews with management over 2-year program documents describing program. findings indicate implementing performance increases has effects, but depend partly principal’s choices. Although consequences were unintended, mostly perceived as positive. shows unintended call for careful consideration pros cons accountability systems when high-stakes test-based mechanisms are introduced.