Gov. Quinn signs Illinois Dream Act

Associated Press
12:22 p.m. CDT, August 1, 2011

A new Illinois law gives illegal immigrants access to private scholarships for college.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed the law Monday at a high school in a Latino neighborhood in Chicago.

He called the occasion a "landmark" day and told an auditorium of people that education is the key to opportunity in a democracy.

Personal Data Collection The new law sets up a commission to raise private money for college scholarships.

Students qualify if they attended an Illinois high school for at least three years, received a diploma and have at least one parent who is an immigrant. Immigrant children here both illegally and legally can apply.

It also allows anyone with a Social Security number or taxpayer identification number to enroll in state-run college savings programs.

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