Governor Jerry Brown Signs Only Half of California’s DREAM Act

This week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 130, a law which would allows undocumented students enrolled in California’s public colleges and universities to receive some types of financial aid. While AB 130 is a significant step, it is only one of two bills known collectively as the California DREAM Act. Without its companion bill, AB 131, the legislation does little to address the systemic inequality facing undocumented students in California.

FULL STORY

Currently, undocumented students are ineligible for state-sponsored financial aid. AB 131 builds on AB 130 by allowing undocumented students to apply for and receive Cal Grants (after such grants are awarded to eligible documented students). It would also expand eligibility for California in-state tuition to those who graduate from California adult schools and vocational schools, as long as the student also attended a California high school for at least one year.

A recent study by the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (and co-written by this author) shows that passing AB 131 is a critical step to improving California’s economy over time by reducing barriers to higher education for some of the state’s lowest income residents. 

The thought process here seems to be that the State of California would benefit in the long run if undocumented children more opportunities to graduate from a university.  It basically would have a ripple effect on the economy:  more college graduates, more skilled workforce, higher paying jobs, more spending, etc…  

We will see what happens with AB 131