Since the national and state economic crisis, you have encountered challenges. In order to guarantee that Oregon’s schools remain one of the nation’s best, I am asking for your help. Step back for a minute and evaluate your education experience, not only as a student, but as an Oregonian as well. It should be obvious education is the key that unlocks the door to success. How do you improve the quality of our education system?
It’s simple. Prove to those around you that your generation’s future and the institutions you learn in are worth the public’s investment. Every cent counts toward the necessary tools that enable you to learn everyday, from textbooks to teachers. If the public doesn’t continue to fund education, we will send the wrong message to everyone involved. Let’s encourage Oregonians to properly fund one of the best public education systems in the nation.
Some people think our schools already have enough money. Let’s look at some facts. In a well-known Northwest economist firm’s study, it was discovered that in 1990, Oregon was spending 4.6 percent of the total state income on K-12 education; in 2000, Oregon spent only 4.2 percent. Put another way, the governor’s published budget is $1 billion short of what’s needed to have the same education product we had two years ago.
A big misconception about spending is that the CIM and CAM costs hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Not true. The cost of this assessment system is $30 to $40 million. It is impossible to eliminate student assessments, as they are now mandated by the federal government’s No Child Left Behind Act.
During my March 21, 2003, testimony to the Oregon House of Representatives Revenue Committee, I advocated for increasing public investment in our schools and our future. I summed up our situation like this:
“We, and the federal government, are demanding dramatic improvements from our schools — and it appears we are about to give them dramatically less money than they need. It’s as if we were telling a baseball manager, ‘Win 100 games and the Series this year, or you’re fired — and by the way you’ve got to cut payroll by 20 percent.’”
After reading this, education’s future must appear pretty bleak, but you know better. Oregon schools are worth fighting for. Oregon has been No. 1 or No. 2 in SAT scores for the past 13 years. Oregon teachers are among the most qualified in the nation. By every objective standard, Oregon schools are among the best in the nation!
Failure to invest in our schools would surely stifle our chance to keep our lead, as well as harm students and their futures.
You can change this situation, strengthen our schools and safeguard your future all at the same time by making a simple commitment. Whenever possible, educate those around you concerning what the statewide budget cuts have done to the learning process in your school and community. Become an education advocate. If you can touch the lives close to you — your family, your friends, their families — you can help sway public opinion toward investing in Oregon’s education — investing in your future.