Will Coley
Social Justice Mediamaker
- May 5, 2009 • 6:07 pm PDT
- + responses
I just came across this GREAT video "Whatever It Takes" from SOL (Strengthening our Lives) about AB540, a California state law that improves access to public higher
education for all students regardless of their immigration status.
You may have heard about the growing national movement to pass the DREAM Act to grant immigration status to undocumented students. While this may soon become a reality (fingers crossed), there are still state-level issues that impede the ability of young immigrants to continue their education.
AB540 allows U.S. citizens who attended school in California in the past but
now unable to establish state
residence to pay in-state tuition (i.e., those who return to California
after living
elsewhere). Previous to the passage of AB 540, immigrant
students
were charged the out-of-state tuition. Nine other states, aside from California,
provide in-state tuition rates to undocumented students. Instead of creating a
financial burden, these states generally experienced increased college revenue by
enrolling these students, most of whom might not have been able to attend
college otherwise.
