La Meta de Nuestros Sueños | California Dream Act
- Yaretzi Macias Rivera
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
This article has been written in both Spanish and English. Click here for the English.
Vivir en Estados Unidos es creer en la posibilidades, y nadie cree más en las posibilidades en este país que los que han sacrificado todo y cruzado fronteras para tener posibilidades infinitas para sus familias, y por el sueño Americano.
Cada año desde que entré a la secundaria he visto a tantos niños estudiar con la meta de algún día conseguir un trabajo o una carrera que les puede dar una vida de comodidad y felicidad, independientemente de sus circunstancias. Pero en la escuela he notado que muchas veces no hay suficiente información sobre la educación disponible después de la preparatoria. Hay estudiantes que entran al colegio sin ayuda financiera y con una idea de cómo va a ir la experiencia de colegio. Nuestros estudiantes de ELL merecen apoyo para poder cumplir sus sueños.
Algo que podría ayudarles es tener conferencias con presentaciones en sus clases explicando las posibilidades de sus futuros después de que se gradúen de la preparatoria. Una oportunidad de ayuda que quiero explicar es una acta que se llama:
El acta se refiere a los estudiantes o “dreamers/soñadores” y provee apoyo financiero a los estudiantes indocumentados que quieren continuar estudiando después de la preparatoria. Es importante aplicar lo más pronto posible para poder calificar con los requisitos necesarios. Esta es una oportunidad grande para poder hacer nuestros sueños realidad.
Que es Requerido?
Para poder aplicar a la ¨California Dream Act¨ tienes que tener los requerimientos primarias de la ley AB 540 (California Nonresident Tuition Exemption).
Estos requisitos son:
3 o más años de asistencia escolar o créditos equivalente a 3 años en escuela preparatoria o elementaria
Graduado de Preparatoria (High School Diploma)
Muchos de nuestros estudiantes que califican para este servicio, no saben de esta información adicional importante.
Cuando la aplicación esta completa, podrán aplicar para estos otros servicios de ayuda económica.
Cal Grant, Chafee Grant, Middle Class Scholarship
UC Grants, State University Grants
California Community College
The Goal of Our Dreams
As immigrants, to live in the United States is to believe in dreams coming true, to believe in the American Dream. From my first year of high school, I have met students who dream and talk about securing jobs and careers that will help them achieve a comfortable life, marked by success and happiness, regardless of their background and circumstances. Unfortunately, many don’t know how to make this happen. There’s a lack of information about the resources and options for education that are available to students who are undocumented or new to PHS from other countries.
With the help of FAFSA, Cal Kids, and scholarships, everyday students can continue to work on their futures. Most students enter college with an understanding of how their college experience will go and with options of financial help. However many of our new ELL students are unaware of how or when to apply to colleges or how to find financial aid. We know this after interviewing some of our newcomer ELL senior students, many of them not even knowing what the Dream Act was, or when to apply for FAFSA. Many believe that their dreams are unreachable, simply because of documentation. This isn't true; the California Dream Act gives undocumented students a chance to make their dreams come true.
The Dream Act was developed in 2001 and is a chance for young undocumented students who are referred to as “Dreamers.” to access financial aid for college. This could be a community college or a university. This opportunity is something all our newcomers/ELL students should be aware of. I believe that our school could promote this information more. All students, regardless of their background or circumstances should have the same information and help as students who have lived here all their lives and speak English. Many students at PHS hope that our school becomes more effective at informing and encouraging all students about their futures.
How to get started:
The first step is to meet the AB 540 Requirements.
You must have three or more years of education or credits equivalent to three years of elementary school or high school.
You must have graduated from High School or Adult School.
For more help on applying, please contact James Marnell(james_marnell@jusd.k12.ca.us) or Ms. Sharon McDonough (sharon_mcdonough@jusd.k12.ca.us). You can find them in the library at the College and Career Center. They help hundreds of students each year, but they are only two people for hundreds of seniors. Our newcomer students need help in Spanish so their possibilities can also be infinite, just like yours and mine.
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