California’s public universities and colleges used to be a bargain for middle-class parents. In addition to their relatively low cost, they were also among the top academic colleges in the nation. They were the ultimate equalizer because an excellent student could go to a world-class university — even if their parents were not wealthy. Due to the national recession and chronic budget shortfalls, college fees have risen dramatically over the last decade. Since the 2003-04 school year, California State University fees have increased 191 percent, University of California fees have increased by 145 percent and community college student fees have also increased significantly. While low-income students can rely on Cal Grants and Pell Grants, middle-income students whose families make just over the cutoff limit are being increasingly squeezed out of higher education. To keep college affordable for all Californians, I am joining with Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez and my Democratic colleagues in the Assembly to propose the Middle Class Scholarship, a program to keep college fees down for middle-income families. These scholarships will be funded by closing a tax loophole for out-of-state corporations. All students in the CSU and UC systems with family incomes of less than $150,000 who do not already have fees covered from another source will receive a Middle Class Scholarship that cuts costs by two-thirds. To apply for the Middle Class Scholarship, CSU and UC students will fill out the standard financial-aid forms. Under this proposal, about 150,000 CSU students will receive the Middle Class Scholarship and save more than $4,000 per year. About 42,000 UC students will also receive the Middle Class Scholarship and save up to $8,169 per year. Further, community colleges will receive $150 million to expand affordability efforts. Investing in California’s students is an investment in our future. For every $1 we spend on higher education, the state gets a $3 return on its investment. Passing this legislation will require a two-thirds vote of the California Legislature, which means Republican and Democratic legislators will have to join together in supporting the plan. This won’t be easy to accomplish, but with enough persuasion from students, parents, and all who depend on an educated workforce in California, it can become a reality. For more information, visit my website at www.asmdc.org/members/a76/. — Assemblywoman Toni Atkins represents the 76th District of the California Assembly, including Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and the southern portion of La Jolla.