In a ruling that could affect hundreds if not thousands of students, U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore determined that students in Florida can't be charged higher non-resident tuition because of their parents' legal status.
The ruling is in agreement with House Bill 441, which died in March. If the bill had passed, it would have ensured any dependent child in Florida who is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a qualified alien whose parent is not a U.S. citizen, be eligible for in-state tuition at a Florida college or university. Currently, Florida's policy forces many legal residents to spend up to three times more on tuition.
Moore's ruling came from a lawsuit filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center. He said Florida's existing tuition discrimination violates the Constitution.
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 5, 2012.