Dive Summary:
- Undocumented students in Pennsylvania traveled to Harrisburg Tuesday to convince state lawmakers to pass the Pennsylvania Dream Act, which would make state grants available to eligible undocumented students, and also allow them to pay in-state tuition rates at the 14 state universities, 14 community colleges, Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln universities.
- Similar laws have been passed in 13 other states, and to be eligible, the students would be required to have attended high school for at least two years since 2007-08, or have graduated or earned a GED since 2009-10.
- State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have come out in support of the legislation, which Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition executive director Natasha Kelemen estimates could impact around 15,000 students.
From the article:
... Sen. Lloyd Smucker , R-Lancaster County, who is sponsoring the bill, said today’s job market makes post-secondary education increasingly important. “Yet, dotted throughout our yearbooks and intermingled among out high school attendance rolls, there continue to be students who have been told by the gatekeepers that only some things are possible for them,” Smucker said.
“Their potential is limited because they lack the necessary proof that they are as much a part of our communities as our friends and neighbors.” ...