Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not.
That’s why I have spent almost two decades advocating for in-state tuition for “Dreamers” – Arizona students who were brought here as children from other countries, played with our kids at the playground and ran bases on the same Little League team, attended the same churches, shopped at the same stores, attended the same schools and got good grades.
More than 20 states already do – across all regional and partisan lines. They include Eastern states (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York) and Western (Oregon and New Mexico); north (Minnesota and Illinois) and Southern (Arkansas and Kentucky); the reddest states (Kansas, Nebraska and Utah) and the bluest (California, Maryland and New York).
These states have decided to close the opportunity gap.
And, in passing Proposition 308 – which ensures in-state tuition rates for Arizona students on the November ballot – we should too.
Arizona’s tuition policy is short-sighted
This issue has been a long and winding road.
Our history has been inconsistent and cruel.
In 2006, Arizona passed Proposition 300, which prohibited “Dreamers” from receiving in-state tuition or any other state support to attend school. Prior to that time, Arizona offered in-state tuition to all qualified students, documented or not.
Since that time, these qualified Arizona students have been told, “You are not a resident of Arizona. You must pay more to attend a college or university.” Prohibitively more.
Another view:Prop. 308 could make illegal immigration worse
So, most didn’t.
Meanwhile, conversely and ironically, the brightest among them left Arizona after capturing generous financial aid packages from other universities – including the Ivy League.
While our policy has been cruel, it has also been stupid, shortsighted and foolish.
We’re losing the talent we need to compete
Future economic growth is about talent. We don’t have China’s and India’s size, and we don’t have Asia’s low cost of production. We must compete on talent and on value – inventing the ideas and products the rest of the world will buy.
That is driven by education and college degree attainment.
Arizona is currently 47th of the 50 states in education attainment rates. Currently, 46% of Arizona high school students get some college credits, compared with a 63% national average. Put more dramatically, at current trends, fewer than 1 in 6 of today’s ninth graders will have obtained a university degree by 2029.
Poll finds:Two-thirds support giving ‘Dreamers’ in-state tuition
Arizona can’t compete without keeping more talent. That includes the estimated more than 2,000 undocumented high school students who have demonstrated the capacity to perform academically, but who are priced out of university access.
The business community gets it. The faith community gets it. The Arizona Board of Regents gets it and has been making the case for many years.
Proposition 308 shows who we are now
From polling, it appears that the public gets it, as Proposition 308 currently enjoys majority support.
But we are the state of Sheriff Joe, Russell Pearce and Senate Bill 1070. All of these remind us who we once were. The defeat of Proposition 308 will unleash those in the fearful shadows who want to take us back. They will be empowered again.
Conversely, passing Proposition 308 is common sense and an opportunity to show who we are now. Inclusive, humane and smart. Winning the future.
Fred DuVal is an Arizona civic leader, former senior White House aide and gubernatorial candidate. He is serving his second term on the Arizona Board of Regents. On Twitter: @FredDuVal.
