Court OKs in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in Calif.

SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court says illegal immigrants are entitled to the same in-state tuition breaks that are offered to citizens who attend public colleges and universities.

The high court unanimously upheld a state law that says any student, regardless of immigration status, who attended a California high school for at least three years can qualify for in-state tuition that's much less than what out-of-state students pay.

Georgia has taken steps in recent months aimed at requiring llegal immigrant students in the state's university sytem to pay out-of-state tuition.

A lower court had ruled the California law unconstitutional. It said the law violated federal prohibitions denying illegal immigrants secondary education benefits that aren't offered to U.S. citizens.

The high court reversed that decision Monday, noting that the benefits at issue also are offered to U.S. citizens.

(AccessNorthGa.com's Ken Stanford contributed to this story.)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/11/233816