Audit Found Oregon High School Program Lacks Oversight
State education officials have yet to fully address key program deficiencies intended to improve student graduation outcomes.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office recently released an audit of the state's High School Success program, revealing that the Department of Education has failed to address seven of eight problems identified in 2024. The program, created by voters in 2016, provides $800 in annual funding per student to support graduation and career preparation.
Why it matters
Effective oversight of the $338 million biennium budget is vital for ensuring these funds successfully boost Oregon's 83% graduation rate, which currently trails the 87.4% national average. The audit highlighted a lack of clear accountability and documentation as primary barriers to the program's intended success.
The program currently operates with $338 million in biennial funding, providing $800 per student. While Oregon's high school dropout rate has decreased from 4% to 2.75%, the audit found that only one of eight 2024 program deficiencies has been fully resolved.
The players
Oregon Secretary of State's Office
The state agency responsible for conducting performance and financial audits to ensure public programs operate with transparency and accountability.
Oregon Department of Education
The state institution managing academic standards and grant distribution for high schools across the state.
The details
The program functions by providing grants to high schools for career and technical education, with the Secretary of State's Office performing biennial financial and performance reviews. The audit discovered that the Oregon Department of Education failed to assign oversight responsibility and did not document necessary program adjustments. Without these controls, the state struggles to track how funds directly influence long-term student metrics.
Timeline
Oregon voters approved Measure 98 in 2016.
A previous audit identified eight program problems in 2024.
The Oregon Secretary of State's Office released a new audit on September 23, 2026.
The Department of Education has until 2027 to complete seven unaddressed tasks.
The Home Front
The High School Success program represents a significant shift in state-level investment for career-focused education following the passage of Measure 98. Ongoing audits reflect a broader trend of states tightening oversight on how specifically earmarked school grants are managed at the district level.
Families with students in public high schools should monitor their local district's career and technical education offerings to see if they receive grant support. Parents can advocate for transparency by contacting their local school board to ask how state-level funding is currently being utilized in their specific school.
The takeaway
While the drop in the dropout rate to 2.75% suggests progress, the state audit underscores a need for parents to remain informed about how educational funding translates to student results. Review your local school's annual report to track if career and technical program availability matches the funding received.
What happens next
The Oregon Department of Education is expected to complete its seven remaining audit tasks by 2027.
Further reading
For more information on state academic initiatives, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lookout Eugene-Springfield.
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