The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office released a September 23 audit that flags serious oversight gaps in the state’s $338 million High School Success program. The program, created after voters approved Measure 98 in 2016, distributes roughly $800 per student each year to high schools that develop career‑technical education projects aimed at keeping students in school and raising graduation rates.
Audit findings highlight missing accountability
The audit notes that the Oregon Department of Education has not formally assigned or documented oversight responsibility for the program. It found no evidence that the State Board of Education or any other oversight body reviewed or provided input on identified deficiencies.
Of the eight problems identified in the 2024 audit, the department has fully corrected one, partially corrected five, and still needs to address two. One unresolved issue is the lack of before‑and‑after data to determine whether grant‑funded programs are delivering a worthwhile return on investment.
Department response and timeline
Education Department Director Charlene Williams said the agency agrees with the audit’s conclusion that stronger oversight, documentation, and evaluation practices are essential. “We are committed to completing the seven outstanding tasks by 2027,” Williams said in a statement.
Williams also pointed to the state’s current 83% high school graduation rate, calling it a “record high.” While the national graduation rate for the 2024‑25 school year stood at 87.4%, Oregon still ranks among the lower‑performing states.
Impact of the program
A 2024 study by Stand for Children, a supporter of Measure 98, reported that the High School Success program helped reduce Oregon’s dropout rate from 4% to 2.75%. The study suggests the program may be contributing positively, but the audit stresses that without rigorous data collection and analysis, the true effectiveness remains uncertain.
The Secretary of State is required to conduct performance and financial reviews of the program every two years. This latest audit serves as a reminder that robust oversight is needed to ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and that students truly benefit from the career‑technical education opportunities the grants provide.
What’s next for Oregon families?
Parents and community members who rely on strong graduation outcomes can expect the Department of Education to tighten its oversight procedures over the next few years. By establishing clear documentation and measurable outcomes, the state aims to safeguard the $338 million investment and continue moving toward higher graduation rates for Oregon’s youth.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
