A Policy Agenda for California Student Parents

EXPANDING PATHWAYS FOR STUDENT PARENTS
As California’s public higher education system shifts to better address the needs of today’s college students, who are often juggling work and academic obligations, the segments must not overlook the growing number of student parents—which must also include pregnant students, students on parental leave, and others with dependent care responsibilities. These hundreds of thousands of students with dependent children1 have greater financial need than their nonparenting peers and are less likely to persist from year to year or earn a degree or certificate.2 Additionally, the majority of student parents intend to enroll in a community college, rather than a public four-year or private university,3 and steps need to be taken to ensure they achieve their educational goals. Therefore, prioritizing their needs and carving a pathway to and through higher education, specifically community colleges, would not only benefit the parents, but improves their child’s success, and strengthens California’s economy, creating more vibrant communities.4
As such, it is imperative that California addresses the needs of student parents through four main strategies:
- Increase the availability of affordable and quality dependent care
- Increase higher education affordability for student parents
- Advance student-parent friendly institutional design
- Collect and share data on student parents