Oregon Lawmakers Pioneer Tuition-Free 'Pay it Forward, Pay it Back' College Plan

ABC News ^ | 07/05/2013 | SUSANNA KIM

[Kid Shelleen]

The Oregon state legislature unanimously approved a plan to provide free tuition to students while they attend community college and public university. In return, they'll pay back the state with a percentage of their incomes after graduation.

Called "Pay it Forward, Pay it Back," the plan passed unanimously in Oregon's Senate on Monday and in the House the previous week. The state's Higher Education Coordinating Commission will next develop a pilot program and in 2015 lawmakers will decide whether to implement the program.

[Myrddin]

Your remark about "eating beans" reminded me of my first 6 months in Springfield, VA (1966 time frame). My dad took a position at the Pentagon and was permitted an advance on his pay to put a down payment on a house in Rolling Valley. We literally ate hot dogs and beans for dinner for 6 months. Breakfast was cream of wheat and orange juice. Lunch was at the whim of the school cafeteria menu. I managed to rake leaves, mow lawns and wash cars to earn some pocket money for an occasional Slurpee at the 7-Eleven.