This afternoon the Washington Senate passed the Real Hope Act (SB 6523) with a vote of 35-10.

The bill would allow students to be eligible for the State Need Grant program if they met the following criteria:

• Completed the full senior year of high school and obtained a diploma at a Washington public or private high school, or received the equivalent of a diploma;
• Lived in Washington for at least three years immediately prior to receiving the diploma or its equivalent;
• Continuously lived in the state after receiving the diploma or its equivalent and until being admitted to a public institution of higher education; and
• Provided to the institution an affidavit indicating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so and a willingness to engage in other activities necessary to acquire citizenship.

Or

• Granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) Status;
• Completed the full senior year of high school and obtained a diploma at a Washington public or private high school, or received the equivalent of a diploma;
• Lived in Washington for at least three years immediately prior to receiving the diploma or its equivalent; and
• Continuously lived in the state after receiving the diploma orits equivalent and until
  being admitted to a public institution of higher education.

The bill now goes to the House for consideration.