Measure 98: High School Success
Measure 98, or High School Success, is an equity-driven grassroots solution to raise Oregon’s graduation rates.
All Oregon students succeed when the state invests in research-proven strategies and targets funding to achieve specific educational outcomes. Measure 98: High School Success provides an excellent example.
Stand for Children Oregon led the charge to write Measure 98, campaigned to pass it overwhelmingly at the ballot box in 2016 and advocated for lawmakers to fully fund it at the state level.
Since championing Measure 98 just a few years ago, we have put over $750 million into high schools across the state. Those resources led to a 40% increase in career-related programs offered throughout Oregon. Most importantly, we’ve seen a record 6-point increase in graduation rates, with students of color and low-income students making the biggest gains.
We’re proud of the impact Measure 98 is making across the state.
Read our recent analysis of Measure 98: High School Success
About Measure 98: High School Success
What is Measure 98?
A Targeted Approach: Intent and Funding Uses Measure 98 is targeted to improve high school students’ progress towards graduation beginning with grade 9, increase the graduation rates at high schools, and improve high school graduates’ career and college readiness. Funding uses must align with the initiative’s intent. Oregon schools and districts may use High School Success funds to establish or expand programs in three specific areas: Dropout Prevention, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and College-Level Education Opportunities.
As a result of Measure 98, high school students in every single school district in Oregon have new or expanded opportunities in Career and Technical Education (CTE), college readiness, and dropout prevention strategies.
More than 2,000 additional students have graduated since Measure 98 was funded. That’s 2,000 lives that are on a different trajectory because of the work we’ve done together.
Still, in the years since passing Measure 98, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a gap-widener. Nearly all students experienced learning loss, with historically marginalized students losing significantly more ground, putting high school graduation rates at risk. Measure 98 requires a focus on dropout prevention and centers ninth graders’ success as a critical component of this work.
With your support, we’re working to close those gaps and make our system more equitable for all students. See how we’re continuing to make an impact with the Early Literacy Success Initiative.
