ISAIAH's Civil Rights for Immigrants Campaign:  MN DREAM Act

Resident Tuition Rates for All Minnesota High School Graduates

The Minnesota Dream Act, if passed, is a law that would allow in state tuition for ALL students who have:

•  attended high school in the state for 3 years;
•  received a MN high school diploma or equivalent certificate;
•  been accepted to a public college or university in MN.

This would include the approximately 500 Minnesota students each year who are undocumented and who are now currently charged out of state tuition.  This doubles the cost of college and effectively shuts out many students.  These students did not have a say in the decision to come to the U.S.   The Dream Act would give them equal opportunity to higher education to achieve their dreams.

11 states have passed similar legislation.  18 states are considering it.  There have been two legal challenges to this type of legislation; both have been rejected by the courts.   The bill is endorsed by the MN Chamber of Commerce and MN State Colleges and Universities.

The bill had broad bi-partisan support in the MN House and Senate.  It passed all the legislative committees by wide margins.  However, in a repeat of last year, Governor Pawlenty’s opposition kept the bill from having a final vote on the floor of the MN House.

~ The Shattering of a Dream (June 2005)