Setting our youth up for success and fixing our higher education:
We need to setup youth for higher wages jobs; while also making sure they don’t take on student debt and get phony degrees that won’t land them a job.
Expanding the CTEC program to teach trades and providing job placement at higher wages after students graduate is essential. While also creating incentive programs for trade companies to hire and train new employees.
Creating trade programs with local trade businesses (electricians, plumbers, welders, water well drillers, pump installers, linemen) similar to the one Klamath Community College has done will further setup our youth in careers that pay top dollar and ensure they do not have debt or minimal debt.
Expand grant and loan opportunities for trade businesses for those who have been in a trade for 5 years or are coming out of a trade program and would like to start their own business.
Creating a volunteer based program where a potential student will volunteer with the state for 1 year; receive a stipend and than get two years of standard 15 credits at a public school for free (paid by the state) will increase higher education opportunities and reduce debt. This program would also save the state roughly $10,000 to $15,000 a year.
Addressing our mental health crisis in youth and young adults:
1. Expand emergency services to assist with mental health crisis. Response teams, training for police officers.
2. Give police officers more ability to help people. IE give police officers the ability to check someone into a rehab or mental health institution when they are being a danger to themselves or others. IE give police officers a more broad definition with what they can do.
3. Expand mental health facilities, clinics, including 24 hour ones.
4. Expand mental health counselors in schools and at colleges.
5. Expand OHP to help low income individuals and families.
5. Expand foster care resources and programs including big brother and big sister programs.
6. Restrict social media usage.
7. Set a minimum age on social media at 17 (preferably 21).
8. Pave
Fixing our education system:
1. Allow for school choice. School choice will allow parents to send their kids to private or charter schools. We will cap the voucher system so those who make over a certain amount do not get the voucher. This will help ensure lower income families get vouchers and can get better education.
2. Allow for more private and charter schools. This creates competition, and competition increases results.
3. Update the quality of education model to better reflect how to spend money; not just how much is needed.
4. Pass a law that requires 2/3 of all school budget go to the classroom. A majority of a schools budget goes to the administration; we need the money in the classrooms.
5. Reinstate education standards and testing.
6. Prevent cellphones from being used on school campuses.
7. Expand resources (massively) for special needs children, and those who have developmental and learning disabilities.
8. Expand CTEC to focus on trades Junior and Senior years. This will create higher paying jobs out of high school by giving students a head start with necessary skills.
