It is clear, if given the choice thousands in Oregonians will never attend a higher education after high-school. This is why we are strongly encouraging our new Intellectual Oregon program. 2 free years of post high-school education.

That being said, it is vitally important to prioritize the type of learning and education one gets while still in high-school. Ways to improve how kids internalize the material is so vital to their education. Career Focused Programs for high-school aged students to learn the trades of the 10 most commonly needed and wanted jobs should be emphasized and taught during the 12th grade. 5 days a week for the entire school year of 12th grade. Leave high-school forever skilled.

High school education, in fact, all education needs to be more engaging. If the students are not having fun and are not into what they are learning then kids will zone out or skip class. There are a host of ideas to get them more engaged such as interactive teaching. Fun lab experiments, out-on-the-field life skill training. Sterile and boring classes where a teacher is speaking down to the kids will only go so far.

Also, in high-school, let's start doing a way with some classes that will have very little impact on kids lives as they soon get ready to exit HS. We need to teach kids about careers, salaries, credit, budgeting, taking out a loan, college debt, buying a house, filing taxes. This is the stuff that matters.

Most importantly, for each student that is clearly drawn towards a specific trade or a certain skill....electrician, agricultural, architect, nurse, plumber....etc, we will implement a pilot program in every public high-school in Oregon that will help to guide every kid to a Master-trade learning program after their graduation. Get better skilled in that one area they seemed to be driven to.

Most high-school graduates feel overwhelmed to think about college and take on another 8 classes and hours of more homework. So....many don't continue on to higher education.

Let's pay attention to each and every student. High-School counselors will be required to step up their job and take on new priorities. For those that are requesting...Help get those kids in their school get directly into a 1-trade higher education immediately after graduating high-school. For those not requesting, counselors need to make sure they are on a path towards success.

This will be a life-changing skill. A live-long investment. A life-improving quality we can help to build.