By Eric Fruits, Ph.D.
Cascade Policy Institute’s bill to make it easier for Oregon high school students to graduate early by passing the GED is getting a hearing this week. We hope you will reach out to the committee to voice your support for the bill.
This Wednesday, March 8, the Oregon House Committee on Education will hold a hearing on HB 3068.
Currently, it is almost impossible for an Oregon high school student to take the GED exam. In most cases, students must drop out of school before they’re allowed to take the GED.
HB 3068 lifts that restriction. If the bill passes, any student aged 16 or older can take the GED test. (Parental consent would be required for students under 18.) Students who pass will be awarded diplomas, meaning they will be considered high school graduates and free from compulsory school attendance.
HB 3068 will boost Oregon’s graduation rate because students who pass the GED receive diplomas and will be considered high school graduates.
HB 3068 will reduce Oregon’s dropout rate because students won’t have to drop out first before taking the exams.
Our bill has bipartisan support across both houses of the Oregon legislature. That’s because this is a common-sense solution that imposes no obligations on students, families, or the state. Even better, HB 3068 does not require any new spending or taxes.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Please testify or submit written testimony supporting HB 3068. It’s easy.
To submit written testimony, click here and fill out the form. You can type your testimony in a text box or upload a PDF.
To provide testimony remotely or in-person, click here, click “Register to Testify,” and fill out the form. The meeting date is 03/08/2023 at 3 PM.
If you have any questions, please contact Eric Fruits at Cascade Policy Institute, [email protected] or 503-242-0900.
Eric Fruits, Ph.D. is Vice President of Research at Cascade Policy Institute, Oregon’s free market public policy research organization.
Bruce Greer
As one who did not complete high school but who was required to complete the GED to continue classes at Blue Mountain Community College, I have some experience. It is possible, in the intervening years, that the GED has changed. I found it terribly easy, especially given the poor quality of the education I had. But perhaps it does give an objective evaluation of what one should know upon completing high school.
Certainly completing the GED with decent scores may be more meaningful than graduating from high school with the level of knowledge many have. I have personally had experience with a student with a high school diploma whose math skills were inadequate to add fractions.