Kids with B-averages and above will soon qualify for cash from Big Miller Grove Baptist Church.

The Lithonia church's education ministry is offering money through its new Academic Incentive and Mastery (AIM) initiative to encourage students. It launched the program during its Aug. 31 Sunday service.

Paula Saunders, the church's publicist, said all students who pass their classes with a grade of 80 or above and other program requirements will be offered a cash incentive at the end of the academic school year.

"We are raising funds now and the children who meet the criteria will split the money evenly," she said.

The Education Ministry has committed to offer tutorial and other support services to help the students excel. The students and their parents have to sign an agreement confirming their commitment and understanding of the initiative.

The AIM initiative is part of the Georgia Department of Correction's "Make the Right Choice, Choose Freedom" campaign, which parallels the ministry's goal to help keep youth out of prison and help them focus on better opportunities and a brighter future.

The launch service was led by members of the Atlanta Transitional Center Choir, inmates who are transitioning from jail into the community. They shared inspiring testimonials in songs, poetry and skits that recounted their troubles with the law.

The choir, which has been profiled on CNN, gives back to society by mentoring young people and encouraging youths to make right choices and avoid choices that lead to incarceration.

Valerie Sullivan, Big Miller Grove's dean of academics, said certain crimes result in mandatory sentences.

"Most people are unaware until it is too late that there are seven specific crimes committed by teenagers that comes with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in an adult prison," Sullivan said.

The crimes are rape, murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated sexual robbery, aggravated sodomy and aggravated child molestation.

During the service, church members found out that nearby ZIP codes contribute to 25 percent of the state's prison population.

Statewide, ZIP code 30032 in the Glenwood and Candler areas ranks fourth, and ZIP code 30316 in the East Atlanta and Gresham Park areas ranks 10th, in the number of who are residents incarcerated.

Sullivan said that on any given day, 30,000 youths are under the supervision of the state juvenile justice system.

For more information, e-mail Valerie Sullivan at vksullivan@bellsouth.net or call 678-468-0668.