Student Parents Reflect on the Impact of AB 2881 – Webinar

With the passing of AB 2881, colleges throughout California are offering greater support for student parents. The bill passed in 2022 establishes priority registration for student parents and notifies them of resources and support critical to their success. By implementing these changes, student parents will be able to graduate in a timely fashion while balancing their responsibilities as caretakers.

In California, an estimated twenty percent of all undergraduates are parenting students—486,454 students—and 181,182 are single mothers. Student parents are also an incredibly diverse demographic. Among students of color, one in three Black students, one in three Native American students, and one in five Latinx students are parents.

In a recent webinar, the Michelson 20MM Foundation asked three student parents to describe how AB 2881 has affected their time in higher education.  For the panel, the initial days of AB 2881 were not without challenges. Registration could still be difficult, and administrative errors meant some were not listed as having dependents.

However, student services always proved helpful, and after updating their records, they were given priority registration, meaning they could plan childcare and alleviate the ‘time poverty’ that so many student parents face.

Watch the full panel above and learn more about the Pregnant & Parenting Student Initiative.