On Saturday, September 15th, governor Jerry Brown signed the second half of the two-part California Dream Act. The Dream Act will allow undocumented immigrants eligible for state-funded financial aid from all state universities that are part of the University of California and California State University systems, as well as from 112 California state community colleges. Texas and New Mexico have also passed the Dream Act. This controversial bill was passed in the democrat-dominated state legislature in September. In August, Illinois passed it's own version of the Dream Act which allows illegal students a chance to receive privately funded grants. Opponents of the Dream Act state that the law will not help California's pre-existing budget issues, which caused cuts in the education funding and created higher tuition at universities. "Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and creative thinking. The Dream Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of us." Beginning on Jan. 1, 2013, immigrant students in California will be eligible to apply for state-funded financial aid and Cal Grants. The California Department of Finance estimates that 2,500 students will be eligible for Cal Grants, which are funded at $1.4 billion.
No comments:
Post a Comment