Ideas

Mark Hass
Former Senator | Portland, OR

Oregon Promise

Idea Category: Education

Problem

In the changing economy, it’s harder than ever to get a good-paying job with only a high school education, yet a growing number of high school graduates feel that they can’t afford a higher education. Unfortunately, it costs Oregon taxpayers an average of $14,000 per year for each unemployed young person they support.

Solution

Senator Hass wants to make it free for high school graduates to take community college classes so that they can earn technical skills or get a head start on a four year degree. Since two years of community college is cheaper than a lifetime of food stamps, he hopes to fund the program through federal Pell grants as well as future savings from students who would no longer need to rely on more expensive safety net programs.

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