Education

By ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: February 20, 2008

Economic mobility, the chance that children of the poor or middle class will climb up the income ladder, has not changed significantly over the last three decades, a study being released on Wednesday says.

In case you missed Second Chance - a film about changing young lives created by youth in the Multnomah County juvenile justice system - you can watch it here.

Portland Public Schools, in collaboration with the Portland Schools Foundation and the alternative educational options are sponsoring a Come Back Fair.

The Come Back Fair is an opportunity for youth that are no longer in school to get back on track and find an educational program that fits their needs.

Schools are starting up, and student energy will begin to focus in from the expansiveness of summer life lessons to the intentional lessons that make up formal education. Many of those lessons involve reading: either learning to read, or learning from reading.

Chalk It Up for Oregon LiteracyA few weeks ago Sam addressed those gathered for the Oregon Literacy event in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

An important economic impact for Portland and Oregon, will result from the capital funding allocation for the Oregon University System. The $561 million capital budget  including the $60 million allocated to reduce the system's $640 million deferred maintenance backlog will help meet critical repair needs, and modernize classrooms and laboratories.

The efforts that will take place on campuses across Oregon will also create more than 11,800 construction jobs over the next several years. The projects will provide a $1.25 billion economic output of goods and services through the projects, and provide almost $400 million in increased earning for Oregonians.PCAT Building in the Background on PSU Campus

With Sam's advocacy, this is the first year the City of Portland has added higher education to its Legislative Package. Several of the higher ed priorities have been successful; including increased funding for the Oregon Student Opportunity Grants, and establishing Aspire as an officially recognized State Program. Both of these programs are run out of the Oregon Student Assistance Commission.

Aspire is a highly successful mentoring program, training and coordinating volunteers to help high school students be successful getting Aspire Mentoring Programinto college and applying for scholarships and financial assistance. Beyond being recognized as an official state program, Aspire has been allocated $700,000. These funds will allow Aspire programs to expand from the current 83 high schools in Oregon, to 115 schools next year. $300,000 of the allocation will serve as match, for school districts and high schools to develop their new programs.

Thank Goodness, and THANK YOU Governor Kulongoski and State Legislators.

The Oregon University System (OUS) received a 23% increase in a combination of operating and capital projects funding from the State Legislature and Governor Kulongoski. The General Fund budget for the OUS system for 2007-09 is $870.4 million. As OUS Chancellor George Pernsteiner stated, "This budget signals a major commitment by the legislature to meet ...the ten-year reinvestment plan to improve student access and affordability, high quality learning, innovative research and programs directed at economic development, workforce shortages, and other state priorities for Oregon."

As the President of the Local Elected Officials on the Workforce Investment Board and the Higher Education Liaison for the City of Portland, Sam has been advocating for more state funding during this legislative session.

Unfortunately, the federal trends are worst. Since 2003, federal allocations for our region have gone from $25 million to an anticipated $15 million for 2007.

"Never before has the academic mission of colleges and universities-to generate and impart knowledge-been so fundamentally tied to regional economic success."
Greater Philadelphia's Knowledge Industry Plan

Oregon's and Portland's economy depends on our ability to meet the knowledge and workforce needs required to strengthen, attract and keep businesses that will provide family wage jobs.

Phil Busse is Executive Director of The Northwest Institute for Social Change.

Nothing drives me more nuts than listening to a White House press conference. The reporters shy from any probing questions and have all but muzzled themselves.

There must be a better way.

That's why this summer we're hosting the Northwest Institute for Social Change here in Portland-an academic program for undergrads to learn how arts and the media can bring about positive and progressive social change. (Sam is on the Board of Directors.) We're hoping to turn out a new generation of truth-seeking filmmakers, bold journalists and rabblerousing musicians. Check out: www.nwisc.com. The institute is a mix of liberal-arts styled classroom academics (taught by Reed, PSU, UO profs) and real-life projects (like producing a series of short documentaries about gentrification and designing a media literacy curriculum for middle schools).

Actually by Betsy Hammond; The Oregonian; Friday, January 26, 2007

Economists: Kicker is useless
School funding - At a legislative debate, both sides say the corporate rebate fails to grow Oregon's economy

What was billed as a debate by dueling economists before legislators who write Oregon tax laws turned on Thursday into a unified message: Spending more on education would pump up Oregon's economy, while giving corporations a "kicker" tax rebate does almost zilch to grow jobs and income.
Both Phil Romero, a University of Oregon economist who was chief economic adviser to former California Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, and Richard Sims, a former chief economist in two states and expert on state tax and fiscal policy whose visit was financed by the Oregon teachers union, agreed on those fundamental points.
They said spending more on education creates jobs for educators, creates jobs for those who serve them and draws new businesses that want a well-educated work force and good schools for their employees. By contrast, they said, giving corporations an after-the-fact tax cut in years when corporate tax payments surge beyond projections does not draw employers or change corporate behavior.

Thomas Friedman has written an interesting column about the education goals necessary for the global economy that exists today. Competence, skill and creativity will be crucial for thriving in an economy that can scan the globe to find the least expensive resources and labor. A continuing committment to learning and changing will serve us well as individuals and as a community.

The New York Times

In this season of giving, are you looking for a gift idea?  Perhaps for someone who loves books, education, kids, community service, or already has everything? Consider going to Powell's and purchasing a "book pledge" for $5.95, good toward one book for Portland and Beaverton public schools. 

A Great Place to Find a Book How cool is that?  Powell's is a great example of our Portland businesses that keep finding ways to contribute to the community.  Read on to find out what their project entails.

In early November, Sam met, in his capacity as Council's liaison for Higher Education, with representatives from more than fourteen Portland public and private higher education institutions to discuss their legislative priorities for the upcoming state legislative and national congressional sessions.

Those present represented a range of perspectives on budgetary, legislative, and student assistance concerns. State funded institutions, including those represented by the Oregon University System and Oregon Association of Community Colleges, are concerned about operating budgets, capital expenditures, and student assistance resources. Private non-profit institutions do not receive public operating support, but share a desire for increases in student grants and loan assistance. The for-profit institutions asked for support lobbying for students to qualify for student assistance dollars.

In the 60's the Beatles melodically maintained that, "All you need is love...". Well, Portland loves its schools and education, but while "Money can't buy you love..." it funded a good campaign for the Portland Public Schools $33 million levy.

Finally, PPS will have five years of funding stability for teachers, books and supplies.

With great staff support from Jeffrey King, Sam, along with State Treasurer Randall Edwards, and PGE CEO Peggy Fowler, co-chaired the Portlanders for Schools Fundraising Committee.