Changing schools is tough. From being stared down in the hallways to having strange classes, being “that new kid” is always a challenge. On a personal note, I transferred from a school in Georgia to a school in Alabama. I was called all sorts of mean names just during the first week of starting my new school. On top of that, I was placed in quite the assortment of classes, ranging from freshmen to senior classes. I left all of my best friends since preschool back in Georgia to come to a new home where I was alone. All new students go through similar tribulations. These issues are inevitable. However, there is one major problem that can be fixed.
A percentage of the taxes we pay go to the state. These taxes cover mainly healthcare and education. On average, forty percent of the state’s dollars go to education; furthermore, fourteen percent go to higher education. Therefore, a family who has lived in a particular state and has paid their taxes should undoubtedly get a cut on the in-state university’s tuition. After all, it is their money that has funded the university.
But what if someone moves to a different state his/her senior year and plans to attend college in his/her new state? The family has only paid one year of that state’s taxes. That is certainly not enough to cover a decent chunk of college tuition. And what if it is the other way around? What about the family that moved states during high school but can no longer get in-state tuition to the college they wish to attend? Does this seem fair to you?
It is not fair. This is not fair to the state; this is not fair to the parents, and this is not fair to the student. Currently, in-state tuition is based on the student’s senior year. Whichever state the student lives in their last year of high school is the state they will receive tuition for. I am proposing a simple solution to this unjust system. We have to completely erase the current system regarding what is considered “in-state.”...