The Time excluded concrete proposals

I attended the Latino Education Policy Forum on Oct. 5 that was the subject of a Seattle Times news article the next day [“Legislators want to aid undocumented students,” NWSaturday, Oct 6].

The article lacked important content presented at the educational forum and instead seemed interested only in fanning the flames of controversy about undocumented students. It failed to mention several compelling reasons that would help readers understand why providing financial aid to undocumented students is justifiable.

The article failed to mention good, concrete proposals presented by an associate vice provost of the University of Washington to improve college completion rates of Hispanic students and others.

The article omitted some very good ideas presented by a school superintendent to address the needs of all students, especially English-language learners who often struggle the most.

Over the years while in the Legislature, I have had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of students brought to Olympia by the Latino/a Educational Achievement Project. Many were undocumented who excelled academically and were honors students. But then the door is slammed shut financially.

I look at these students as my neighbors, who deserve to be treated with full consideration.

—Dave Quall, Mount Vernon