California Dream Act?

Although the name of the bill is exactly the same as the federal legislation last year, it does not grant legal status to undocumented students. However, it does help them to pay for college.

This is from synopsis of the bill

          Existing law requires that a person, other than a nonimmigrant alien, as defined, who has attended high school in California for 3 or more years, who has graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent thereof, who has registered at or attends an accredited institution of higher education in California not earlier than the fall semester or quarter of the 2001-02 academic year, and who, if he or she is an alien without lawful immigration status, has filed a prescribed affidavit, is exempt from paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges and the California State University.

This bill would enact the California Dream Act of 2011.

This bill would provide that, on and after January 1, 2012, a student attending the California State University, the California Community Colleges, or the University of California who is exempt from paying nonresident tuition under the provision described above would be eligible to receive a scholarship derived from non-state funds received, for the purpose of scholarships, by the segment at which he or she is a student.



There are two bills, AB 130 and AB 131. AB 130 allows many undocumented students who qualify for in-state tuition to apply for private scholarships and financial aid from the school.

AB 131 allows those students to apply for state grants, such as Cal grants.

The California Dream Act has passed the senate few times but it was vetoed by the former governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. However the newly elected Jerry Brown promised to sign the bill during his campaign, so many believe that it will pass.

But is it really necessary?

The opponents believe that it will allow more illegal immigrants to take advantage of this loophole. They also believe that granting state funds to them while California is a huge economic crisis is not reasonable.

However, the supporters point out it will only benefit less than 1 percent of all California college enrollments. Therefore, they believe that if these students graduate with a college degree, masters or PhD, they will certainly contribute to our society.

If they were raised here and excelled in academics high enough to get into college, they deserve equal opportunity as the rest of students, regardless of their legal status.