Final Program Evaluation Design
Executive Summary
The DREAM Act is a tuition policy that was meant to benefit the undocumented immigrants’ students. This analysis will try to give an estimation of the effects that this law had on the residents of the United States of America and the aliens. Everybody is entitled to obtain Higher Education, though many argue that these rights should be given to legal citizens in United States of America. The DREAM Act introduced through a legislative proposal in the senate in the 2010. This would enable undocumented high school graduates to get citizenship through two options: joining military or College (Kim & Diaz, 13).
Introduction
This paper gives an evaluation of the effects that the Development, Relief and Education of Alien minors - (DREAM) Act will impact on the lives of the residence of United States of America. The conditions for the incorporation of these aliens into the country’s citizens were that they should be have lived in the U.S for at least 5 years, of good moral character, graduate from a U.S high school and they should also have completed two years at a four year institute of learning or two years in military service. This act is expected to have great impact on the education, military and economy of country.
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors abbreviated as DREAM Act is a legislative proposal first introduced to the senate in 107th congress in 2001. Between 2002 and 2006 the republican took control of the congress due to their big opposition in the legislative, the bill was turned down despite everything. In 2007, when the Democratic party took control the bill was once again introduced to the congress by Senator Richard Durban and was rejected again. The latest the bill was introduced in December 2010 when the DREAM Act was brought in and passed in the House by a vote of 216-1989. The bill reached the Senate on 18, 2010 getting 55 yes and 41 nays.
The DREAM Act came up when the United States congress enacted a bill which would provide young men and women to obtain conditional permanent residency. The bill had guidelines in which an individual had to meet in order to qualify for permanent residency. They put two options under the DREAM Act guidelines of which an individual would be allowed to apply for full citizenship in the United State, these were; attend college or enlist in the United State military (Mayorga, Picower, & Rader, 2008).
This act will have a significant positive impact on the education of the country. More students will be able to attend high school and the level of dropping out will drastically decrease. The impact on the economy is that the country will benefit from a population of highly learned and skilled labor. This will give the country an added advantage in competing with the other innovative nations all over the world. In the military, these learned personnel will be of greater value since this will be a group of highly academically competent persons. This will also allow the alien immigrants to have a justified presence in the country and avoid hiding from the law but focus on more positive country development issues.
The quasi-longitudinal approach research method has been chosen for the purposes of this research to try and give an evaluation of the Development, Relief and Education of Alien minors (DREAM) act would influence life in the United States of America and the possible improvement on the country’s education. The variables that have been identified in this research include: the impact of DREAM act on United States of America and enhancement in education levels. Other variables include the impact on the country’s global economy, change in prevalence of illegal migration; growth and development of alien minors, quality and service of the military and moral character are important considerations in when using the quasi longitudinal study.
A quasi-experiment a form of study that is empirical and it is used for the purpose of evaluating the possible impact of an intervention on an identified population for study. This has similarities with the traditional random control experiments (Kaplan & Saccuzzo, 2009). The variable in a quasi experiment must be identified where the independent variable will be denoted the x-variable which can be manipulated in order to impact on the dependent variable. In this case, the independent variable is the DREAM Act and the dependent variable being the target population that is the alien immigrants.
This kind of research was chosen since it can be use where randomization is not possible. They are easier to set up and usually give generalized information of the whole population which is usually highly representative and accurate. This kind of design also reduces the threat of external validity as in such cases the natural environment does not have problems of a controlled environment. One finding can be directly related to another aspect since these experiments are conducted in a natural environment (Burns & Bush, 2010).
Sampling design
Probability random design method will be the most appropriate for this research. The probability random sample technique chosen for this study was the simple random sampling design. This was chosen after careful considerations on the outcome that was expected for this research. Factors such as the amount of error that is acceptable, the level of confidence desired when making conclusions, the population variation, the anticipated effect size and the population size we some of the important considerations put in place. This type of sampling is done using a subset of individuals who have been chosen from a larger population size. Random choice of individuals is done from the subset population of the targeted group. In so choosing, each individual has equal probability of being part of the sample.
This is a form of basic sampling technique which forms basis for other complex methods. Every object in this kind of sampling has equal probability or opportunity to be used in the research. The reason for choosing this form of research it that is gives a representative view of the population and is free from bias (Burns & Bush, 2010). This gives every member equal opportunity of being chosen. When this is properly conducted, it will give a highly accurate representation of the population of interest in the research. This form of sampling also is characterized with the ease of sampling and analysis. Other forms of sampling require an in depth know how of the population in question before the sampling is done. Data representation is simple and can be easily understood. It has been argued that a well conducted sampling can have a high accuracy of the external validity.
The data collection methodology that will be incorporated in this research will be qualitative. The procedure for this method will be to identify the research participant-who will be 20 in number, and the location, gain access to this place of population for study; determination of the way of collecting data- in this case questionnaire, developing the form for collecting data and finally the form is administered in ethically acceptable ways (Kaplan & Saccuzzo, 2009).
A qualitative research does not involve numerical analysis but forms opinions as the conclusions. The mode of data collection that will yield desirable results during this study will be the use of questionnaire as identified in this sampling method. A questionnaire will have a set of questions that are direct to the objectives of the research and therefore precise information being sought can be acquired much more easily.
Recommended budget
The estimated budget for this research will be $22,957. Most of the funds will be used in the expenses incurred during the interview of the 20 respondents expected to be take part in the exercise.
Conclusion
In summary, the DREAM Act would allow illegal minors in the United States to give evidence that they migrated to the country before they attained the age of 16 years and have been in the United States for at least five consecutive years. After a full background check of the student and confirmation that they possess a good moral character, they be allowed in state tuition and their path to citizenship shortened after a higher degree or two years of military service. Many of the suffering aliens will have rights that are supported by the law. The country will have a highly skilled labor that will enable the economy to grow and even sustain it. Future generations that will be a product of these aliens will have a brighter future since they will have parents that will be able to support them socially and also economically. Instances of child labor will decrease drastically as most children will have the opportunity to be in formal education as opposed to hiding from the law as they may be illegally in the country.
References
Burns, A. & Bush, R. (2010). Marketing Research. Upper Saddle River. NJ: Pearson Education.
Kaplan, R. & Saccuzzo, D. (2009). Psychological testing: Principles, applications, and issues. Belmont CA: Wadsworth.
Bruno, A. (2011). Unauthorized Alien Student: Issues and ŻDREAM Actż Legislation. New York: DIANE Publishing.
Mayorga, E., Picower, B., & Rader, S. (2008). Camouflaged. New York: Lulu.com.
Perez, W. (2009). We are Americans:Undocumented Students Pursuing the American Dream. New York: Stylus Publishing, LLC.
The DREAM Act. (2012, N.D). The DREAM Act. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from The DREAM Act: http://dreamact.info/Wepman, D. (2008). Immigration. Chicago: Infobase Publishing.
Whitehouse. (2013). THE DREAM ACT: GOOD FOR OUR EC. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from whitehouse.gov: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/DREAM-Act-WhiteHouse-FactSheet.pdf
