Transforming Public Education in Oregon
Transforming Public Education in Oregon
- Introduction
- Overview
- Transforming the Education Budget Process
- Connecting Early Childhood Education and Development to K-12
- Transforming Primary and Secondary Education
- Connecting High School to Postsecondary Education
- Transforming Post-Secondary Education
- Conclusion
- Help Transform Oregon:
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Laying the Foundation for a Secure, Prosperous Future
The central challenge facing Oregon today is to transform our economy into one that is strong, resilient, internationally competitive and insulated from the boom/bust cycles that have plagued us in the past. This will necessarily require similar transformational changes in a number of other major systems including public education; public finance; health care; energy; and community development.
In order to successfully transform Oregon’s economy, we must make it possible for more Oregonians than ever before to attain higher levels of education. Studies show that an increasing number of jobs in the immediate economic recovery and longer term future will require some amount of post-secondary education. If we can’t provide a workforce for those good jobs, our economic future will be in serious doubt.
A broad vision for meeting these new workforce requirements is captured in the Oregon Business Plan in a formulation referred to as "40-40-20:" 40 percent of Oregon adults should have a bachelor’s degree or higher, another 40 percent should have at least an associate’s degree or other technical credential, and the remaining 20 percent should have a high school diploma that represents a high level of academic and work or vocational readiness skills.
To achieve this goal will place unprecedented demands on the capacity of our current education system (pre-K through 20) and will require not only a different and more integrated operation of the education enterprise, but also a unified, transparent, student-centered budget framework that allows policymakers to understand existing and planned expenditures, to make informed choices, and to hold institutions accountable for results. At a time when massive multi-billion dollar budget shortfalls are projected for at least the next two biennial cycles, we must do everything we can to find more dollars for education, and showing our educational success through transparency will be a powerful statement to the public that public education – the very cornerstone of our democracy – should be the first priority for additional funds.
Become a part of transforming Oregon.
These position papers are “dynamic” and will develop and expand as the ideas and strategies of Oregonians to help achieve the vision are incorporated. Please submit any ideas or comments you have to JohnKitzhaber.com/education.
