M. Elena Cruz
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By M. Elena Cruz / Guest contributor
LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) is the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy group in the United States. In 1946 the Santa Ana LULAC chapter won the lawsuit that ended 100 years of segregation in California’s schools. So when LULAC sees legislation that threatens access to education, at any level, we take a stand.
On May 25, 2013, California LULAC unanimously voted to oppose AB 955 authored by Assemblymember Das Williams (AD37), because AB 955 would favor the “haves” over the “have nots,” would create two-tier class pricing, resulting in an increase of community college tuition rates by 400% and provide a special educational advantage to students who have enough money to pay up to $200 per unit for summer classes instead of the regular $46 per unit fee. AB 955 threatens access to education in California.
We believe AB 955 inhibits educational attainment in our community. As stated in the mission of the American Association of Community Colleges, a college must “serve all segments of society through an open-access admissions policy that offers equal and fair treatment to all students.”
As the May 4, 2013, Sacramento Bee Editorial, expressing opposition to AB 955 stated, “Imagine you go to the grocery store and find long lines at the checkout. A clerk approaches and says ‘You can wait in line, or if you’re willing to pay four times more, we can get you out right away.’”
California LULAC believes that all community college students deserve a full course offering, at a reasonable cost, without favoring students who can move over to the “fast lane” because they have more money than others.
AB 955 would allow each individual community college to decide whether or not they want to install a “fast lane” for those who can afford to pay for the privilege. That means students and parents lose the ability to plan for the future. Right now the fees are set by the Legislature and the Governor. That means public hearings, transparency, consistency, and the ability for those affected by a dramatic price increase to express their opinion about having to pay more for their chance at the American Dream. There are no such guarantees under AB 955.
California LULAC joins the Community College Chancellors Office, the Faculty Association of Community Colleges, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, and community college students in saying NO to the AB 955 Pay-to-Play.
— Maria Elena Cruz, Ph.D. is deputy state director for youth, League of United Latin American Citizens and chair of the LULAC Education Committee. Contact her at mecruz.lulac@gmail.com. Visit www.vclulac.org for more information.
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