Senator Harry Reid has announced that he will again bring the DREAM Act up for a vote in the US Senate after Thanksgiving. The Act, authored by Senators Orin Hatch (R-Utah) and Richard Durban (D-IL), provides a pathway to legal status for undocumented youth who entered the U.S. as children, graduated from U.S. high schools, and attend college or enter the military. For all intents and purposes, these children are American. Raised in the United States, they share more in common with their U.S.-born peers then with their parents’ generation. They tend to be bi-cultural and fluent in English. Each year, tens of thousands of this generation of kids graduate from primary or secondary school, often at the top of their classes. Many have the potential to be future scientists, business owners, doctors, nurses and teachers. Yet through no fault of their own, their lack of status may prevent them from attending college, joining the military or working legally. The DREAM Act would provide an opportunity for kids to live up to their full potential and make greater contributions to their Wisconsin communities. To learn more about the DREAM Act go to the DREAM Act Fact Check.
K-12 Education in the Fox Valley
Every student in the Fox Valley region deserves to receive the educational support and resources needed to help them achieve a bright future. Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant impacts on students in Wisconsin. These challenges were particularly acute for students who were more likely to be struggling prior to the pandemic, like students with lower incomes, students of color, and students who speak English as a second language. With federal pandemic relief funds drying up, state leaders must ensure schools have adequate resources and that students don’t fall even more behind.
