(BOSTON — 05/09/23) The Senate Committee on Ways and Means will include a provision in its Fiscal Year 2024 budget, released Tuesday, to make higher education opportunities more accessible for Massachusetts high school students. Under this policy change, all Massachusetts students — regardless of immigration status — will qualify for in-state tuition rates at Massachusetts public colleges or universities if they have attended a Massachusetts high school for at least three years and graduated or obtained their GED here. This bill would unlock access to state financial aid for these students as well.  
 
“Granting in-state tuition to our immigrant students—the children who play on sports teams in our communities and who want nothing more than to provide a solid financial future for their families and work towards the American dream—is a step I’m proud to take in this budget,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “It’s both good policy and smart policy: it will provide a tangible benefit for students who may not otherwise attend college, and it will increase the state’s competitiveness by nurturing, harnessing and growing the talent we have right here at home. At a time when the need for skilled workers has never been greater, it’s time to help these students get on a path to academic and economic success.” 
 
“The time has come to start providing our bright and motivated young students, who struggle to rise above cycles of generational poverty, with the same educational opportunities as their fellow residents. This provision welcomes students regardless of their race, national origin, and citizenship to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education. Said Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), “This critical measure is another step we have consciously made to strengthen and reinvigorate the workforce pipeline.”    
 
"There is no logical reason to prevent motivated and talented young students from our higher education system, especially when many students who attend college in Massachusetts choose to stay here upon graduating,” said Senator Crighton (D-Lynn), “This common-sense legislation will prevent Massachusetts residents from being forced to pay out-of-state tuition rates for public higher education.” 
 
At a time of declining higher education enrollment and workforce challenges across the Commonwealth, this legislation would remove an outdated barrier to opportunity for Massachusetts residents.   
 
"Over the last several years, our community colleges have served an increasingly large number of high school students through Early College. Yet time and time again, those same students learn after graduation that the cost to attend college is out of reach financially due to their immigration status," said Laura Douglas, President of Bristol Community College. "This budget makes an unprecedented investment in our undocumented students and will make a tremendous impact not only on our students, but on the Commonwealth's workforce as well."