Mayor Edwin M. Lee today issued the following statement after Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 131 known as the California Dream Act, which allows all low-income students who have graduated from high school after attending at least three years in California to apply for Cal Grant student financial aid:

“I applaud the courage of our Governor and the State Legislature to take solid steps to remove barriers to higher education and help students succeed at a time when other states are putting up obstacles for our low-income students. California’s public higher education systems are world class, but becoming increasingly costly and face even more drastic cuts due to shrinking State revenue. Student financial aid goes a long way to pay for tuition, fees, books and living expenses for low-income students. 

San Francisco has forged new and exciting partnerships with our public schools and with public higher education to guarantee a place in our colleges for every child. Working together, we are helping to bridge the graduation gap and ensure all our students get the education they deserve and have a place in the 21st century workforce.”