ALBANY, NY — Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on January 16 introduced a comprehensive state Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which would support the education of immigrant youth. The bill would also, for the first time, allow immigrant students to apply for state financial aid, as well as to create a DREAM Fund that would provide private scholarships.

“Our immigrant families, like many struggling in these trying economic times, need financial help to achieve their educational goals,” said Silver. “As a child of immigrants, I know that investing in these inspiring students represents an investment in our future.”

The bill would make New York one of just four states—the others are Texas, New Mexico, and California—to offer state financial aid to the children of immigrants. In-state tuition has been available to New York’s immigrant youth since 2002, an option available in just 11 other states.

This legislation would also give young immigrants access to a broad range of state educational opportunity programs such as the Tuition Assistance Program, the Higher Education Opportunity Program, Educational Opportunity Program and the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program.