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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Thursday The Playwright in Ashland has new owners, same vibe Since You Asked: Penalty for parking in accessible space is consistent Man who blew himself up had prior mental crisis Hungry pinnipeds flock to Columbia Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, March 26 People in Business, March 26, 2015 Police volunteer suspected of stealing 30 firearms Central Point woman scammed by fake diamond Man arrested in connection to Cave Junction stabbing Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. 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Granlund cartoon: Kraft and Heinz merger Editorials Our View: Some police videos should be released Our View: Public records rules should apply to lawmakers, too Our View: Oregon schools will have to make do with a little more money Our View: Medford police tried to avoid confrontation Other Views: Dave Frohnmayer was a man of honor Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 26 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 24 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 22 Columns Guest Opinion: George Will: Who says economics is hard? Kathleen Parker: Wacko birds nesting in U.S. Senate Michael Gerson: How to block a bad nuclear deal with Iran Kathleen Parker: Dear Starbucks: Let's not talk Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Guest Opinion: Raise your voice against child abuse Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Lifestyle Latest stories Religion News: Oscar Romero’s memory honored on assassination anniversary Movie listings: March 27-April 2 Suzette Martinez Standring: Easter — believing in the impossible Marketta Gregory: Purer. Braver. Stronger. 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Plant a few dahlias, Dahling Hello, honey: Invite bees for a lush garden Health St. Mary's student helps others with diabetes Community blog: Sleep Tight: Making Your Bed, Body and Mind Ready for Rest Health Watch: 5 tips for seasonal allergy relief A better bedtime Studying stress Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Captain & The Maestro play The Wild Goose Next Stage Repertory presents 'Educating Rita' at the Craterian Theater Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night' opens at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Alan Berman Trio plays the Imperial Ballroom in Medford The Brothers Reed win a slot in the Rising Stars finals Theater Next Stage Repertory presents 'Educating Rita' at the Craterian Theater Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night' opens at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Camelot's 'Sunset Boulevard' ambitious, not as dark Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' Music Captain & The Maestro play The Wild Goose Pimps of Joytime play Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Community Events Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Dining Parsing the meaning behind wine medals and scores Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 22 Jasmine Thai Cuisine Restaurant Inspections Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Some police videos should be released ... Guest Opinion: ... County sends Phoenix lions packing ... Our View: Some police videos should be released ... Guest Opinion: ... County sends Phoenix lions packing ... EDUCATION Oregon legislators may end fifth-year high school programs Delayed graduations help students cover college costs MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 23, 2015 @ 3:00 pm Posted Mar. 23, 2015 @ 3:00 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> from the Albany Democrat-Herald SALEM — Students and administrators from school districts across the state were among nearly 30 people who last week urged Oregon lawmakers to keep fifth-year high school programs, similar to one used by a Medford charter school. Amendments have been suggested to Senate Bill 322, that would phase out fifth-year programs in the next two years. Educators urged senators to instead consider expanding them, possibly by reconsidering other bills that would direct funding for new initiatives. Students who participate in fifth-year programs first meet all the requirements to graduate from their local high school, but put off receiving their diploma while spending a fifth year taking college classes. Because the students still are considered part of their hometown districts until they formally graduate, districts use state K-12 school funds to cover their tuition and fees at the community college. Coordinators at both sites meet regularly with the students to help them plan and keep them on track. In Jackson County, Logos Charter School planned to use the program to pay for the higher-ed costs of about 40 students. The school would have allocated $6,846 for each fifth-year student, all but about $300 coming from state K-12 funding. SB 322 initially would have provided a funding structure for the programs, albeit at a reduced payment rate. But Sen. Mark Hass of Beaverton, a member of the education committee, said he and other lawmakers support the amendments that would end them entirely. They say the programs exploit a "loophole" in state funding, that K-12 dollars shouldn't be used to support college classes at the expense of crowded elementary classrooms and other needs, and that larger districts can't participate for fear of bankrupting the system. The Oregon Department of Education knows of 26 districts with fifth-year programs and estimates their cost to the K-12 budget at about $9.5 million per year. Student after student last week urged the senators to keep the programs, saying they provide a critical support system, especially for low-income, first-generation college students. Hass asked Anthony Ross, student body president for South Albany, whether Ross thought it was appropriate to use K-12 money for college. "Senator, you're well aware of the saying, 'You have to spend money to make money,'" Ross replied. "Yes, it will hurt, at first. Down the road, you will see enormous benefits from this program." Corvallis Superintendent Erin Prince said her district's graduation rate jumped nearly 20 percent in two years, to 84 percent, after beginning a fifth-year program. "We understand the funding model needs to look different," she said, "but don't cut the programs that are successful." Kristin Adams, who coordinates Sweet Home's fifth-year program, asked senators to reconsider the "fairness" angle. Portland may be worried about crowding in its 33 elementary schools, Adams acknowledged. However, she said, each of those 33 schools already offers a P.E. specialist, a music teacher, a counselor, a speech pathologist, a technology instructor and someone to teach English as a second language — all resources Sweet Home lacks. Beaverton offers Advanced Placement class in 11 subjects, she added, while Sweet Home has just two. "I don't feel like I'm robbing the K-12 budget," she said. "I feel like I'm leveling the playing field." 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