Helping Parents Pay for College
Many thanks to all who attended our special series of town halls on Oregon’s 529 College Education Plan and Oregon's Shared Responsibility Model. Turnout was great and cooperation from teachers, counselors and parents was heartwarming. Special thanks to Michael Parker, Director of Oregon’s College Savings Plan and James Sager, Senior Policy Advisor to the governor.
I know that many parents in our area are especially anxious about college for their children. And why shouldn’t they be? Costs have outpaced inflation for the last 20 years and today’s children will likely need more than four years of higher education to be competitive in today’s global economy.
The reality is it’s tougher for today's high school graduates to pay for a college education than it was for their parents. So, while the Oregon 529 Plan won’t solve all the college headaches, it’s at least a solid tax break for families and a terrific incentive for parents, grandparents and kids to save.
Here are some key links to help families with college planning:
The Oregon 529 College Savings Network is a set of qualified college savings plans established by the State of Oregon to help families and individuals save for future higher education expenses.
The Shared Responsibility Model
The proposed shared responsibility model of the Oregon Opportunity Grant involves four steps that will enable all students to cover the cost of college attendance.
The Oregon Student Assistance Commission
The Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC) is the state student financial aid agency for Oregon.
