Dive Summary:
- Oregon's state Legislature last week approved the concept of a "Pay It Forward" plan that would allow students to attend its public universities without traditional tuition charges or loans.
- The plan, which was developed by the nonprofit Economic Opportunity Institute in Seattle, would instead deduct 3% from graduates' paychecks for as long as a quarter-century to pay for future students' expenses.
- The new rules could ease burdens on students who struggle to find jobs but also require students who earn more to pay more, since expenses would be determined by salary levels.
From the article:
... "I feel as if the problem of student debt has reached a tipping point. It's on legislators' minds," said state Rep. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland. "And I think it's on legislators' minds because it's on their constituents' minds. This is something we're hearing a lot about – at the doorstep, through our polling, through our e-mail." ...