Res. No. 1219
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation establishing the New York DREAM fund commission, which will advance the educational opportunities of children of immigrants through scholarship programs for higher education.
By Council Members Dromm, Rodriguez, Arroyo, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Eugene, Ferreras, James, Koppell, Lander, Levin, Rose, Williams, Mark-Viverito, Palma, Mendez, Recchia, Vann, Lappin, Dickens, Van Bramer, Reyna, Barron, Gennaro, Koo, Mealy, Foster and the Public Advocate (Mr. de Blasio)
Whereas, New York State is home to 1.4 million children of immigrant parents; and
Whereas, Children of immigrant parents, like all children, are entitled to free public education through the 12th grade and are eligible to enroll in college; and
Whereas, With college tuition on the rise every year, there is a risk that children of immigrants may not be able to afford college in the future; and
Whereas, To alleviate some of the financial burden on children of immigrant parents, in November 2011, New York State Assemblyman Francisco Moya and New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat introduced legislation to create the New York DREAM fund commission(A.8689/S.6071), which would commit New York State to advancing the educational opportunities of children of immigrants; and
Whereas, This legislation calls for the creation of a DREAM fund commission and a DREAM fund; and
Whereas, The DREAM fund commission would raise money for the DREAM fund, which would be used to assist children of immigrants by providing scholarships to eligible individuals who pursue higher education; and
Whereas, The commission would be required to establish the criteria for such scholarships, to create and publicize a training program for education professionals, and to develop a public awareness campaign for the DREAM fund awards; and
Whereas, In order to receive the benefits of the New York DREAM fund, an individual would be required to have (i) resided with his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) while attending a public or private high school in New York; (ii) graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in New York; (iii) attended a public or private high school in New York for at least three years as of the date he or she graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma; and (iv) at least one parent or guardian who immigrated to the United States; and
Whereas, Creating the New York DREAM fund commission would assist children of immigrants who would otherwise struggle to afford a higher education and therefore improve their quality of life and, by extension, the quality of campus life at the institutions they attend; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation establishing the New York DREAM fund commission, which will advance the educational opportunities of children of immigrants through scholarship programs for higher education.
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JSM
LS# 3093
2/2/2012