The Maryland In-State Tuition law, also known as the Maryland Dream Act, was signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley in 2011.
This year the law is being challenged with a ballot referendum. The measure will appear on the Nov. 6 statewide ballot as veto referendum Question 4, and voters will decide whether the law will be upheld.
This law is not an immigration reform bill, but rather an effort to make higher education more attainable for all residents of the state. The law allows Maryland students, including undocumented immigrants, to pay affordable in-state college tuition rates.
To qualify for in-state tuition rates a student must meet certain specified conditions. They must have attended a Maryland high school for at least three years and received a diploma. They, or their family, must have filed state income taxes for three years and the student must continue to pay taxes every year while in college.
They must demonstrate intent to apply for permanent residency and, if required, must register with the selective service system.
Qualifying students must first attend a Maryland community college for two years before being eligible to transfer to a Maryland four-year college or university.
The law does not automatically guarantee acceptance to a college, it only applies to the payment of in-state tuition rates. Acceptance must be earned by each student based on merit.
The primary purpose of the Maryland Dream Act is to offer fair treatment to undocumented immigrant children who came here at a young age. America is their home and most often is the only country they have ever known.
The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that undocumented immigrant children should have access to public education through grade 12. But upon graduating from high school they are treated differently than their classmates.
For most of them, a college education is unattainable because they are ineligible for scholarships or other financial aid and cannot afford high tuition rates.
Expanding educational opportunity to all high school graduates is beneficial to all of us from a broader perspective. We profit both economically and socially from higher education.
Maryland needs a more educated work force. We continue to face shortages in key areas such as teaching, nursing, other medical support professions, and middle-skills jobs that require a college degree.
The vast majority of immigrant students who qualify under the Dream Act are bilingual and driven, and have demonstrated a strong work ethic by holding nighttime or weekend jobs while in high school.
Enabling these aspiring professionals to go to college will help to fill the statewide shortages in their fields of interest.
Investing in higher education helps reduce public spending on social programs and increases state tax revenues.
This has been the case in Texas, which became the first state to enact a Dream Act legislation when it was signed into law by Gov. Perry. In Texas they have found that every dollar invested in higher education has yielded more than five dollars in the long run for the state’s economy.
The Allegany County Branch NAACP strongly supports the Maryland Dream Act. We urge voters to cast their ballot in favor of upholding the Maryland In-State Tuition law on referendum Question 4 in this year’s election.
America is the land of opportunity. How then can we deny a student who has achieved academic excellence an opportunity to pursue their dreams solely because of the actions of their parents? We cannot — that is not who we are.
Joy Kroeger-Mappes, education chair
Richard W. Jones, communications chair
Allegany County Branch, NAACP
Cumberland
Opinion
Don’t deny these good students their dream
- Opinion
-
-
Walk Smart
Many local residents will be visiting Ocean City this summer, so it is worth noting that the resort has launched a campaign that it hopes will keep pedestrians out of harm’s way.
-
Trailer case bound to increase scrutiny on town of Piedmont
This letter is in response to the recent story concerning the guilty plea entered in federal court by Piedmont’s town foreman (“Piedmont town foreman Shingler enters guilty plea,” May 21 Times-News, Page 1A).
-
Fixing community’s problems starts with your young people
I am writing this letter to the editor because I think our community really needs to work on plenty of issues. Some of them are:
-
High priority
Maryland school officials on Tuesday put an exclamation point on the need to take student-athlete concussions more seriously.
-
Why are there no answers to these questions?
We currently have the most corrupt administration in the history of the country. Every day more and more lies come from the Obama administration.
-
Roaming dogs prove menace to some residents of LaVale
I am writing to inform your readers and the animal control staff of Allegany about a problem that is dragging on and unresolved, yet.
-
These types should look to the Boy Scouts for an example
Consider these headlines:
NRA will “Never Surrender.”
The Tea Party will “Never Surrender.”
The No Tax Group will “Never surrender.”
Neocons will “Never Surrender.”
Far Left Liberals will “Never Surrender.” -
Housing project will have bad effect on property in this area
I am writing to you to voice my opposition to a low income housing project that has been proposed for construction on a tract of land on Pine Swamp Road in Mineral County, W.Va. I am a registered voter and resident of Mineral County and live in the New Creek/Pine Swamp area.
-
Why have the media been silent all this time?
When I read the Cumberland Times-News Editorial this morning, Friday, May 17, entitled, “Outrageous,” I laughed like a kid at a birthday party!
-
What are chances this much money will be spent on road?
I was intrigued by cost data summarized in reporter Kathy Mellott’s recent article, “Completing southern link of U.S. Route 219 said to be best use of highway funds,” which appeared in the Cumberland Times-News on Tuesday May 14 (Page 1A).
- More Opinion Headlines
-
