SB244: Crushing Student Dreams and Limiting Florida’s Economic Future

A recent op-ed by Florida Chamber’s CEO Mark Wilson and Helios Education Foundation CEO Paul Luna recognized the essential role postsecondary education plays in building a workforce that meets the demands of Florida’s high-growth industries. They emphasized that unlocking opportunities for post secondary opportunities — whether a four-year degree, two-year degree, certification, or a credential — FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL is essential for Florida’s future, “driving prosperity for generations to come.”

Crushing the dreams of tens of thousands of Florida’s children, blocking them from access to Florida’s future workforce, because of a decision their parent’s made year ago, is a poor economic decision. And it’s not a good look for a diverse state like Florida.

Yesterday (1/14/25), Florida State Senator Randy Fine filed a 2nd bill, SB244, preventing undocumented children from attaining higher ed.

“Is it fair to allow an illegal immigrant to take a spot that could be taken by a Floridian or an American? I would argue no,” said Fine.

SB244 creates a new section of law which prohibits the admission of undocumented children to a selective Florida university or state college, essentially eliminating access to college AND vocational ed in Florida

By my read, passage of SB244 as written would not affect undocumented students already admitted to state colleges and universities, but, for a diverse state that is powered by immigrants, it is appalling.

Florida prides itself in being ranked #1 in Higher Education by U.S. News and World Reports, particularly excelling in ontime graduation rates and in-state tuition and fees. (Fine’s SB90 prevents undocumented high school graduates from qualifying for in-state tuition.)

Florida’s state colleges play an essential role in the higher education system by offering affordable and accessible learning opportunities. They are Florida’s home for vocational training. These institutions emphasize:

• Associate Degrees: Two-year programs designed to prepare students for the workforce or to transfer to four-year universities.
• Technical Certificates: Short-term programs that equip students with specialized skills in fields such as healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades.
• Bachelor’s Degrees: To address workforce demands, many state colleges now provide bachelor’s programs in areas like nursing, education, and technology management.
• Transfer Pathways: State colleges act as a bridge for students planning to transfer to state universities.

Many college bound students opt to begin their education at a state college, completing general education requirements at a lower cost while benefiting from smaller class sizes before transitioning to a university.

Florida is a diverse state. Reports estimate 2 in 9 residents in Florida are immigrants. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents, which includes people who became US citizens, are authorized to come to the US (e.g., for work), or are undocumented residents. Florida is home to about 1.2 million undocumented immigrants, according to a recent Pew Research Center report. Their children attend our public schools, often excelling and finding academic and career/technical success. For the last decade, undocumented students have qualified for in-state tuition, contibuting to those metrics that enhance Florida’s national rankings.

The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Future of Work Florida initiative has identified the “Top 30 High-Demand Careers,” underscoring the critical link between post-secondary education and training and a workforce prepared for the future. As Wilson and Luna emphasized, supporting Florida’s growing economy and meet future workforce needs, requires expanding access to education pathways and training programs aligned with these high-demand fields. Restricting access to these programs for a significant number of high school graduates is NOT part of that plan.

Again, crushing the dreams of tens of thousands of Florida’s children, blocking them from access to Florida’s future workforce, because of a decision their parent’s made year ago, is a poor economic decision. And it’s not a good look for a diverse state like Florida.

OPPOSE SB244.