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--> --> House should kill student bill Corvallis Gazette-Times June 22 Oregon legislators should kill a bill that would give high school students a chance to take college classes for free. While at first the bill sounds like an innovative way to help students, it raises some serious problems with equity and impact on public schools. The legislation, in a revised version of House Bill 2004, is being considered by the state Senate, which twice this week postponed votes on it. This "Expanded Options Program" would let high school juniors, seniors and dropouts over age 16 enroll in community colleges, state universities or private colleges, with the tuition paid by their public school district. Supporters call it a recognition that high schools fail to serve all students equally well. Opponents call it a voucher program. Both are partially right. High schools obviously don't serve every student perfectly. Some drop out and could use help to get a GED or some vocational training. Other students with high academic abilities could use the challenge of tougher courses than their school offers and get a head start on their college degree. But this bill holds the danger of draining school districts' resources. This year's version of the bill - a similar one was vetoed by the governor in 1999 - at least limits tuition payments to 90 percent of what a school district gets from the state in its per-pupil allotment. But if a student is taking some high school courses as well as some college studies, a district may be forced to swallow more costs than the state covers. Providing an option for dropouts to resume education is valuable. But this alternative could become an excuse for districts to fail to improve high school offerings, or for the state to fail to adequately fund high school programs ... It would be far better for lawmakers to reject this bill now and concentrate on providing adequate resources for high schools to fully serve as many students as possible, with extra services for would-be dropouts and for highly talented students. That - not a money conduit for college tuition - is the proper role for our public schools. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing