Gov. Kitzhaber speaks with educators in Pendleton
Gov. Kitzhaber
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber comes to Pendleton today to learn how to improve education across the state.
The governor met with educators, students and administrators from school districts across eastern Oregon to learn about several new educational programs being implemented in our region.
Educators here are working on some early learning initiatives to better prepare young children for kindergarten.
They are also working on an initiative called Eastern Promise - which helps students prepare for college.
School administrators recognize they've had some serious budget problems, and they're hoping conversations like today's will help them overcome those issues.
"And we're trying to change that conversation in Oregon. We're trying to change it to what are we gonna do for our kids right now? What are we gonna do for our kids of poverty? What are we gonna do for our most fragile populations? And what is very clear is no one is coming in on a white knight with a lot of money. We have to use the money that we have in our current system, and how we can use it more efficiently is to break down those silos and collaborate and work together" said Mark Mulvihill, InterMountain Education Service District.
Oregon educators are working toward a 40-40-20 goal. Which means by 2025, they want 40% of adults to have a bachelor's degree, 40% to have an associate's degree or an equivalent degree, and 20% to have a high school diploma.