Posted on 07/07/2015 9:42:50 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
More than 10,000 students are expected to benefit from a last-minute bill passed by legislators this week that makes Oregon only the second state (after Tennessee) to offer free community college.
The idea, according to state Sen. Mark Hass (D-Beaverton), is that a lot of needy students who might like to attend community college are currently failing to apply for federal grants that could pay for much of their education.
The new legislation, Senate Bill 81, offers a carrot: If eligible students apply for and receive federal grants for community college, Oregon will pay the balance of their tuition. The recipients must have lived in Oregon for 12 months, begin their community college course work within six months of finishing high school or the equivalent, take courses that are required for graduation and maintain a 2.5 grade point average. (And it's not entirely free—each student must pay a minimum of $50 per term.)
In legislative testimony, Hass cited state estimates that it costs about $14,000 a year in social services and indirect costs to support each of the 70,000 Oregonians between the ages of 18 and 24 who are unemployed and have no education beyond high school.
"A lifetime of food stamps is much more expensive than the annual community college tuition of $3,000," Hass told lawmakers on May 28.
In Tennessee, more than 80 percent of the students that took part last year in that state's new program got full or partial grant (not loan) funding from federal Pell grants. The state then paid the balance.
If Gov. Kate Brown signs the bill, Oregon will begin its program in 2016, with expenditures capped at $10 million per year. Hass says that, because the program is new, no one is quite sure how many students will take advantage of it. Legislative estimates put the number at between 10,000 and 12,000.
The Senate approved the bill last Thursday. The House then OK'd it late Friday, with 14 of the chamber's 25 GOP members voting for it, led by Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), who worked closely with Hass on the bill.
Hass says a bi-partisan approval for a new program that costs money is a sign of how Oregon's economy has changed. A generation ago, there were jobs in forests and mills that are now gone forever.
"People in timber country supported this bill," Hass says. "It wasn't contentious."
The world wide war is over and done
And the dream of peace comes true
We'll all be drinkin' that free bubble-ubb
And eatin' that rainbow stew
When they find out how to burn water
And the gasoline car is gone
When an airplane flies without any fuel
And the satellite heats our home
But one of these days when the air clears up
And the sun comes shinin' through
We'll all be drinkin' that free bubble-ubb
And eatin' that rainbow stew
Eatin' rainbow stew in a silver spoon
Underneath that sky of blue
We'll all be drinkin' that free bubble-ubb
And eatin' that rainbow stew
You don't have to get high to get happy
Just think about what's in store
When people start doin' what they oughta be doin'
Then they won't be booin' no more
When a President goes through the White House door
Does what he says he'll do
We'll all be drinkin' that free bubble-ubb
And eatin' that rainbow stew
Eatin' rainbow stew in a silver spoon
Underneath that sky of blue
We'll all be drinkin' that free bubble-ubb
And eatin' that rainbow stew
Eatin' rainbow stew in a silver spoon
Underneath that sky of blue
We'll all be drinkin' free bubble-ubb
And eatin' that rainbow stew
California used to have free community college. I guess they decided they couldn’t afford it any more.
Since a high school education nowadays is roughly what an elementary education was fifty years ago, here’s a solution for Oregon kids failed by their school system - a few more incompetently managed classes.
So, it probably won't cost all that much, except for the principle of the thing. People with low self--esteem and lacking drive, etc.
“It’s like a high school where you can smoke.” Officer Mike Biggs
Yes, I remember that.
Will the illegals have to prove 12 months residency?
That’s racist!!
When I started college 25 years ago, the remedial classes had more students in them than any other class. They were the “weeding out” classes. I can’t imagine it is much different today.
When?
Though not expensive classes have cost something since at least1969
The average IQ of college grads is 115 (about 84th percentile). Most of those who attempt college through this plan will not be up to it. I’d say this plan came from soft-headed LIBs. More attempts by LIBs to make everyone feel good artificially. Major FAIL ahead.
How did a newspaper in a liberal bastion named Oregon get this info? AP?
“A lifetime of food stamps is much more expensive than the annual community college tuition of $3,000,” Hass told lawmakers”
Cool! Community college AND food stamps! Yay! Yay!
Oregon also can not afford it. Wonder where the funding is coming from?
Sitting in Mr. Hand’s American History class, gnawin’ on some food stamp pizza, and dreaming of awesome babes, tasty waves, and cool brew. (Hey, ya’ gotta be somewhere.)
That way the wall of your Section 8 crib will have a sheepskin on it.
not free.
100% taxpayer funded.
which really means...
100% property owner funded.
so only some of the taxpayers will be forced to pay for it.
“all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” - Napolean (from Animal Farm)
Some of our high schools in Texas offer dual credit classes to students who are in accelerated high school programs. If they do well in these classes by the time they complete their senior year in high school they will have completed the equivalency of two years of college. Following this they can then transfer to a four year college and enter as a junior. It’s difficult work and leaves little time for other activities but can end up saving a lot of money and time.
I think this is wonderful, free college. Just think, the teaching staff, maintenance staff - all doing it for no wages at all. The utility companies donating the electricity, water and communications. Contractors coming in free of charge to make building repairs and upgrades. Books donated to the school. ALL FREE!
I’ve really learned to dislike the word free because nothing is free.
Try this: Next time a catchup bottle (or any other product) at the grocery story says “33% Free”, bring in your own container, open the catchup bottle and take out exactly 33% without buying anything at all and try to walk out the door.
No such thing as a free lunch. Do the professors and administrators work for free?
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