March 17, 2004

TO: Heather and Noelle, Socio-political Co-Chairs

I am writing to you as co-chairs of the Socio-Political SIG of CoTESOL. I'd like to draw your attention to recent developments in the on-going debate about resident tuition at Colorado colleges and universities for the children of undocumented workers. I didn't find information about this issue on CoTESOL's Web site, so I'm summarizing information as I understand it.

HB04 1132 proposing that the children of undocumented workers be allowed to attend Colorado colleges and universities at resident tuition rates was debated in the Colorado House last month. The bill was defeated. HB04 1187 proposing the opposite--that the children of undocumented workers be explicitly denied resident tuition rates was passed by the Colorado House on February 20. In the Senate, the bill was amended in committee to allow immigrant children of undocumented parents to attend Colorado colleges and universities at resident tuition rates, provided that they have finished at least 3 years of high school in Colorado and graduated. The amended bill will be voted on in the Colorado Senate in the near future. I urge CoTESOL members to contact their state senators and urge them to vote for the bill as amended in the Senate.

I believe this bill is of great importance to the students we as members of CoTESOL teach in our K-12 classes. Unless higher education is an option for the thousands of students throughout Colorado whose parents are undocumented, these children face uncertain futures and low-paying minimum wage jobs at best. Without hope for access to post-secondary education, many students will question the relevancy of their middle school and high school education.

For more information on the bill see the editorial in the Denver Post on March 15. The editorial can be read online at

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E417%257E2017922,00.html

I urge CoTESOL to take a position in favor of resident tuition at Colorado colleges and universities for the children of undocumented workers. Can we use the CoTESOL e-mail list to alert members to this issue and suggest that they contact their Colorado legislators?

You may reach me at this e-mail address or at 303-871-0856 with questions or information.

Thanks!

Ruth Brancard
CoTESOL member