Dreamer Center

In-State Tuition vs. Dream Act. vs DACA

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In-State Tuition

Jurisdiction	State of California
Law or Policy	In-State Tuition AB 540	In-State Tuition AB 2000	In-State Tuition SB 68
Status	STILL AVAILABLE Does not require DACA
What It Does	Exempts students from out-of-state tuition fees	Expands AB 540 to include students who graduate early from high school with 3 years or HS credit	Expands AB 540 to include students to count their years spent at a California Community College and Adult School towards AB 540 eligibility
What It Does Not Do	Does not change their state residency status
Who Can Apply	U.S. citizens, lawfully present immigrants, T and U visa holders & undocumented individuals that meet eligibility criteria
Eligibility Requirements	Student must: Attend three full years of high school in CA or the equivalent for GED Graduate from a CA high school, obtain a Certificate of Completion or a GED in CA Not possess a valid nonimmigrant visa (unless a T visa or TPS status)	Student must: Attend CA high school or graduate early with the equivalent of three or more years of credits Have attended CA elementary or secondary school for cumulative total of three or more years Not possess a valid non-immigrant visa (unless a T, U or TPS)	Student must: Attend Adult School: FT attendance = minimum of 420 hrs/school year Attend Community College: Credit courses, 12 units/semester or quarter equivalent, and max 2 years FT attendance, Noncredit courses FT attendance = minimum of 420 hrs/school year or any combination of the above Attain an associate degree from a CA Community College or fulfill minimum transfer requirements for University of California or California State University

Jurisdiction	State of California
Law or Policy	CA Dream Act AB 130	CA Dream Act AB 131
Status	STILL AVAILABLE Does not require DACA
What It Does	Opens certain scholarships administrated by public institutions to AB 540 students	Opens state-funded grants (including Cal grants, State grants, UC Grants & the BOG Fee waiver) and state programs (EOP & EOPS) to AB 540 students
What It Does Not Do	Does not include eligibility for federal grants or funds Should not be confused with the Federal Dream Act
Who Can Apply	U.S. citizens, lawfully present immigrants, T and U visa holders & undocumented individuals that meet eligibility criteria
Eligibility Requirements	Student must meet: AB 540 eligibility Individual scholarship requirements	Student must meet: AB 540 eligibility Priority filing deadline Income guidelines GPA & other Cal grant eligibility Program requirements for EOP or EOPS

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Jurisdiction	United States of America
Law or Policy	Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Status	On Friday, December 4, 2020, a New York judge ordered the federal government to restores the DACA program completely.. Initial, renewal, and Advance Parole applications will be accepted by USCIS.
What It Does	Allows individuals to receive: Employment authorization card with valid Social Security Number Temporary Relief from Deportation Advanced Parole, in some cases
What It Does Not Do	Did not provide a path to lawful permanent residence or citizenship Did not give eligibility for federal financial aid awarded throug
Who Can Apply	Undocumented individuals that met the eligibility criteria were eligible to apply prior to 9/5/17
Eligibility Requirements	Individual must have or be: Continuously present in US since 6/15/17 Physically in the US on 6/15/12 without lawful status or with an expired status Under the age of 31 as of 6/15/12 Arrived to US before 16th birthday In school, or have graduated high school or attained a Certificate of Completion, or GED or be honorably discharged from US Coast Guard or Armed Forces No felonies, nor significant misdemeanors, nor three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

Prepared for Educators for Fair Consideration by Nancy Jodaitis