EOA

It is unclear the number of students in either category. However, it is a fact that these families are serving a critical role in our economy, pay income, sales and property taxes, are high achieving and hard working, and firmly believe that a good education is part and parcel to achieving the American Dream.

Rather than forcing each higher education institution to serve as an immigration agent and discern one status from another, the In-State Tuition Bill would allow students who have earned a place in college through their hard work to be able to attend at a rate they can afford. The bill does not provide for any financial aid or scholarships.

As of January of 2007, the Education Opportunity Act has been introduce in both Senate and House in the Massachusetts Legislature.

Please call your representatives and ask them to Support the Education Opportunity Act.

The Education Opportunity Act will allow immigrant students to pay the same in-state tuition rates as their peers at public colleges and universities provided they have attended for three years and graduated from a Massachusetts high school. The student has to show that they have already applied for their legal permanent residence, or green card, or they will apply as soon as they are eligible.

The Need

Each year, hundreds of immigrant students, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for years, graduate from Massachusetts high schools but must pay out-of-state tuition rates. According to current state law, only U.S. Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents are allowed to pay in-state tuition rates.

This legislation would serve two different populations of immigrant students who are currently ineligible for in-state rates:

1. Legally residing immigrant students in the process of attaining their legal permanent residence: Falling across a number of legal immigration statuses, these students and their families are work authorized and reside here legally.

However, without permanent residence, or a “green card,” they must pay out-of-state tuition rates.

2. Students whose parents brought them to the U.S. at a young age, and have since fallen out of legal status: These families are eligible for no public benefits (with the exception of emergency medical care), and are undoubtedly working in critical sectors of our economy. Most students falling into this category have been here for several years and do not realize they must pay out-of-state tuition rates until after they are accepted to the school of their choice.