New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) announced that he helped pass the New York State Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act to ensure college-bound students with immigrant parents have a fair shot at a prosperous future (A.4311-A). The legislation grants these students access to state tuition assistance, scholarships and educational opportunity programs and establishes a private scholarship fund (the DREAM Fund) to help with financial planning for college.

“Higher education is essential to building successful careers and a bright future, and we should be doing all we can to level the playing field by making a college degree more accessible to all,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “The DREAM Act does this by ensuring that all students with a New York State high school diploma who want to go to college here can afford to, regardless of their immigration status.”

New York State has long been a leader in expanding educational opportunities so that all students have equal access to an affordable, quality education. Undocumented immigrants who earned a high school diploma in New York are currently eligible for in-state tuition at SUNY and CUNY colleges and universities. The DREAM Act would increase these students’ ability to afford college by allowing them to apply for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), helping them avoid some of the crushing student debt too many graduates are forced to contend with, noted Thiele. Further, the DREAM Act would help these students succeed in college by making them eligible for state assistance available through programs like the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Collegiate Science and Technology Program (C-STEP) and opportunity programs at community colleges.

Undocumented immigrants, who meet certain requirements, including attending high school in New York State for at least two years and having graduated or received a high school equivalency diploma, would benefit from the DREAM Act.

“We shouldn’t punish hardworking students by denying them the chance to keep reaching for the stars. Instead, let’s reward these motivated individuals with the help they need to further their education,” Thiele said. “Here in New York, we promote fairness and equal opportunity – the DREAM Act is a chance to stay true to that promise.”

The DREAM Fund, a component of the DREAM Act, will help raise private funds for scholarships to assist college-ready students with at least one immigrant parent. The legislation also expands access to the New York State College Tuition Savings (529) Program, making family tuition accounts available to anyone with a valid taxpayer identification number.

“Now is the time to finally pass the DREAM Act in New York to give all our young people more opportunities to succeed,” Assemblyman Thiele concluded.