Every year LEAP, along with its Advisory Board, establishes educational policy priorities that work to improve the educational environment for Latino students.
Jose Lopez discussing LEAP Policy Priorities with his district legislators, Rep. Shay Schual - Berke and Sen. Karen Keiser.
Congressman Adam Smith and Global Connection High School students at the 2008 LEAP Education Conference
Extend the State Need Grant program, which provides college financial aid to students whose families cannot afford the cost of college, to undocumented students.
Summary Points
Many undocumented students graduate from Washington high schools as scholars and want to obtain college degrees, but most are from low-income families who cannot afford the cost of college.
In 2003, the state passed a law (HB 1079) that enables undocumented students to pay resident tuition at Washington colleges and universities, but neither state nor federal financial aid is available to them.
Extending State Need Grant financial aid to undocumented students would help make college affordable for thousands of deserving scholars who want to obtain college degrees and contribute to their communities.
Encourage the United States Congress to grant legal residency to college-bound students through the DREAM Act who have been educated in our high schools.
Mentor and train high school students and grant them full-tuition college scholarships, provided they agree to obtain teaching certificates and teach in Washington’s public schools.
Provide college and career readiness centers for students who are behind academically beginning in the 10th grade or earlier; such centers should be open on weekends, evenings, and during summer months, and available to students in age-appropriate environments through age 21, as allowed by state law.
