DC ACHIEVES Establishment Act of 2023
The bill's provisions allow for grant amounts to be determined based on household income, with maximum awards reaching up to $16,500 annually for families earning no more than 80% of the median family income. This aid includes additional considerations for individuals who have experienced the foster care system. The Council aims for this program to address the financial barriers that have historically impeded the educational pursuits of undocumented young people, thereby promoting greater educational equity in the District. Eligible participants must be under 24 years of age, maintain residency in the District, and enroll at least half-time in a higher education institution while sustaining satisfactory academic progress.
The DC ACHIEVES Establishment Act of 2023 aims to provide educational support to undocumented students in the District of Columbia who are ineligible for federal tuition assistance. The act establishes the DC ACHIEVES program, which will administer scholarships specifically tailored to cover both tuition and non-tuition costs. The program's objective is to facilitate access to higher education for students who have graduated from District secondary schools but lack lawful immigration status. By creating a non-lapsing fund, the act ensures that financial resources continue to be available for eligible students without reverting to the city's general fund at the end of the fiscal year.
Notably, the establishment of the DC ACHIEVES program reflects ongoing debates around the inclusion of undocumented individuals in educational funding. In previous years, similar legislative efforts faced opposition due to concerns over how such measures might be perceived at the congressional level, particularly fears that they could jeopardize existing federal funding programs. The effort to provide scholarships to undocumented students, which was previously unfulfilled under the DC Promise Establishment Act, underscores the Council's commitment to ensuring that all high-achieving students, regardless of legal status, have the opportunity to advance their education and future prospects.