Office of Budget and Fiscal Planning

Oregon must make it possible for more Oregonians than ever before to attain higher levels
of education than ever before. This will place great demands on the capacity of our
education systems to respond. Meeting this challenge will require smarter, more
integrated operation of our education enterprise, in essence, system transformation. To
achieve this transformation, Oregon must move to an integrated, transparent, student

centered budget framework which allows policymakers to understand existing and
planned expenditures, to make informed choices, and to hold institutions accountable for
results

Education through and beyond high school is growing more central to the lives of
more Oregonians than at any time in our history. As knowledge and innovation
become the prime capital in global competition, education increasingly determines the
fortunes of individuals, communities, and nations. The workforce in every competitive
economy needs higher levels of knowledge and skills than ever before. Employers
depend on a ready supply of well-educated talent. Where education cements shared
values and expands the personal horizons of individuals, it also advances family life,
civic stability, and democratic ideals.
 
This raises the bar for education attainment in Oregon. Everyone now needs some level
of postsecondary education and certification.
 

In light of that transformation, the Governor, a bipartisan group of legislators, and other
state policymakers are advancing a vision that calls for a highly educated population and
accelerated learning opportunities for students. Oregon must ramp up educational
achievement and workforce preparation to unprecedented levels. Oregon’s graduates
must be prepared to contribute positively to the economic, civic, and cultural life of
communities in all regions of the state.
 

The vision is ambitious. It calls for 20 percent of Oregonians to achieve no less than a
high school diploma as their highest level of attainment; 40 percent to obtain a
postsecondary credential (associate's degree or certification in a skilled trade), and the
remaining 40 percent to secure a bachelor's degree or higher. While educated
newcomers may contribute to some attainment gains, Oregon will have to do a better
job educating its own citizens to meet the high standard. This will tax the will and
capacity of our education systems, which heretofore have not faced such expectations.