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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW (No heading) ... Our View: Charging ahead on supporting electric vehicles ... Rogue River man allegedly copped to fatal knifing, affidavit says ... (No heading) ... Our View: Charging ahead on supporting electric vehicles ... Rogue River man allegedly copped to fatal knifing, affidavit says ... OUR VIEW Our View: Oregon students need job skills training Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jan. 18, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Jan. 18, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Education is emerging as a major issue facing the 2015 Legislature. That's nothing new; school funding is always at the top of the priority list when lawmakers craft the state's two-year budget in odd-numbered years. But this time, there is a difference in approach between Gov. John Kitzhaber and some legislative and business leaders. Kitzhaber's budget proposes modest increases in K-12 spending, concentrated on the years before Grade 3 in an attempt to boost reading ability in all students early on. Studies show students who don't read well by the third grade are destined to struggle the rest of the way and are more likely to drop out. That's important, but business leaders and some lawmakers want to see a stronger focus on developing the technical skills high-school students need if they want to compete for jobs that pay well. Increasingly, business owners are saying they can't fill key positions because applicants don't have the necessary skills. Those jobs are going to out-of-state applicants, they say. These aren't necessarily jobs that require a college degree, but they do require know-how that too many young people aren't picking up in school. Business leaders point to the shop and other vocational classes that once were a fixture of high school offerings but fell victim to budget cuts and haven't come back. Restoring them would take money the districts don't have if they want to maintain instructional days and keep class sizes reasonable.  Kitzhaber's budget does include some money for what's known as CTE — Career and Technical Education — but businesses and school districts say it isn't enough. And college is out of reach financially for too many Oregon young people. There is movement on that front, too: A bill proposed by Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, that would offer low-cost community college credits to students who qualify for federal and other aid such as Pell Grants. Students who secure aid and pay $50 a credit would have the state make up the difference in tuition cost. Hass says this approach would cost only $25 million — a small amount relative to the state budget or to President Obama's ambitious free community college proposal, which would cost billions and is unlikely to get traction in Congress. Legislators have their work cut out for them this year, and education is only one of the challenges. Figuring out a way to give students a real opportunity for vocational and technical training with the resources available ought to be high on the list.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jan. 18, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501