Florida College System institutions could lose more than $15 million annually in tuition and fees under the new policy.
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The Florida State Board of Education on Tuesday voted to bar undocumented students from admission to the state’s 28-college system—a policy that could cost colleges millions of dollars in revenue from tuition and fees.
The board voted at the meeting to allow only those “lawfully present” in the U.S. to enroll at state colleges. Each college’s board of trustees will now have to adopt policies that ensure applicants attest that they are a citizen of the United States or are in the country lawfully prior to admission. The student must then provide documentation of their citizenship or lawful presence in the United States prior to enrolling at the institution.
The State Board of Education also approved a separate amendment banning undocumented students from Florida’s adult education programs, which provide GED preparation and can help adult learners obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for a postsecondary education.
