VOTE YES:
Measure 98 would ensure that all students across Oregon would have the opportunity to participate in AP and dual credit classes if they’d like. Funding would also go towards raising Oregon’s overall graduation rate, which is the fourth lowest in the nation at 68%. Also the funding would go towards career-technical opportunities which would help students who couldn't pay for the class materials needed for projects before this measure. Measure 98 would provide funds (800 dollars per student to be exact) for tutors and counselors to keep students in school and prevent drop outs, it will also fund programs like Oregon's Career Technical Education (CTE) which are proven to increase graduation rates and get kids connected with good jobs. One in four high school students in Oregon dropout, and three out of four that go on to a post secondary education admit they are unprepared and need to retake classes. Even for students that decide not to go to a traditional post secondary school, they could learn valuable skills while in school, this would provide and sustain classes like robotics, computer coding, metals, and wood shop along with other hands on classes. Overall Measure 98 would be beneficial to our schools and communities. Measure 98 would give hope to discouraged students. Measure 98 would make the entire state better. |
VOTE NO:
Measure 98, though seemingly beneficial at first glance, possesses many flaws and unclear wording that makes the measure incomplete and harmful. The most prevalent of these is the fact that Measure 98 is an unfunded mandate, meaning that it is requiring the state to fund something without making clear where the funds for this requirement come from. In this case, the measure would require Oregon to put in 1.5 billion dollars into the measure without giving any indication of where this money should come from. Without a clear source for this money, the passing of 98 would destabilize the already fragile and underfunded education budget and would negatively impact teachers, without necessarily helping students. |