Undocumented students who study in and graduate from California’s public schools are one step closer to having the educational opportunities they deserve. The possibility that they can secure public financial aid is closer than ever before.
A few days ago, AB 131 was approved by a key Senate committee allowing the bill to move forward to the full state Senate.
The bill’s progress is a credit to the hard work of its sponsor, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), who won approval last month for AB 130, which allows undocumented students to access financial aid from private donations. Now AB 131, the second part of the two-bill package, aims to allow undocumented students to apply for Cal Grants and other public financial aid.
The bill’s scope is limited to higher education and excludes vocational and technical schools, taking into account the fiscal situation of the state. It is estimated that close to $38 million is available for financial aid for the students — about one percent of the $3.5 billion in funds set aside for students in public education.
The number of undocumented students who would be able to take advantage of the law is quite small and will not negatively impact what is available for other students.
We believe the California DREAM Act will help improve our state’s future by allowing its best and brightest graduates from public high schools to have the resources necessary to achieve their college education regardless of their immigration status.
The state has already invested in pre-collegiate education for these students. It would be a waste not to help these high-achieving students continue with their education.
We hope the Senate will pass AB 131 quickly and that the governor will sign into law a DREAM Act that can truly help students and bring real benefits to California by making the state’s workforce all the more promising.
Undocumented students who study in and graduate from California’s public schools are one step closer to having the educational opportunities they deserve. The possibility that they can secure public financial aid is closer than ever before.
A few days ago, AB 131 was approved by a key Senate committee allowing the bill to move forward to the full state Senate.
The bill’s progress is a credit to the hard work of its sponsor, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), who won approval last month for AB 130, which allows undocumented students to access financial aid from private donations. Now AB 131, the second part of the two-bill package, aims to allow undocumented students to apply for Cal Grants and other public financial aid.
The bill’s scope is limited to higher education and excludes vocational and technical schools, taking into account the fiscal situation of the state. It is estimated that close to $38 million is available for financial aid for the students — about one percent of the $3.5 billion in funds set aside for students in public education.
The number of undocumented students who would be able to take advantage of the law is quite small and will not negatively impact what is available for other students.
We believe the California DREAM Act will help improve our state’s future by allowing its best and brightest graduates from public high schools to have the resources necessary to achieve their college education regardless of their immigration status.
The state has already invested in pre-collegiate education for these students. It would be a waste not to help these high-achieving students continue with their education.
