CSU Pregnant & Parenting Students Initiative

The systemwide Pregnant & Parenting Students Initiative Taskforce is a multifaceted, community-driven approach to transform the CSU from student parent supportiveness to servingness.

Student Parent Resources by Campus

Choose a campus from the dropdown list below to find the website for their student parent resources.

Diagram of PPSI

Spotlight on Student Parent Support in the CSU

Articles

Sitting Down with the Family Resource Center Student Interns [Cal State Long Beach]
CSU Launches Pregnant and Parenting Students Initiative With Support from Michelson 20MM Foundation [CSU Website]
CSU Creates a National Model for Supporting Student Parents [Diverse Issues]
Meeting Student Parents’ Basic Needs—Fresno State [Inside Higher Ed]
Thriving as a Student Parent: Alexis’s Story [San Diego State University]
Bring Your Kids to College Day Engages Student Parents [Inside Higher Ed]
Student Parent’s Journey Earns CSU’s Highest Honor [Cal Poly Humboldt]

Existing California State Policy on College Student Parent Support

Assembly Bill 2881: Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children. (2021-2022)

This bill would require the California State University and each community college district, and request the University of California, with respect to each campus in their respective jurisdictions that administers a priority enrollment system, to grant priority in that system for registration for enrollment to a student parent, as defined, by no later than July 1, 2023. By imposing additional duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would specifically require each Basic Needs Center to also ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), and the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). To the extent the bill imposes additional duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would add educational information and eligibility requirements for the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), and the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to that requirement and request. By imposing additional duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would specifically add the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), and the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to that list of public services and programs. The bill would also require each campus of the California State University and of the California Community Colleges, and request each campus of the University of California, by no later than February 1, 2023, to host on its internet website, as provided, a student parent internet web page that includes information on all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified. By imposing additional duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include legislative findings and declarations, and state legislative intent, relating to these provisions.

Assembly Bill 2458: Public postsecondary education: student parents. (2023-2024) [Greater Accessibility, Information, Notice, and Support (GAINS) for Student Parents Act]

This bill would require the information on student parent internet web pages to include additional information on student parent services and resources, including several other federal and state tax credits, state and federal financial aid applications and programs, and the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. The bill would require each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and would request each campus of the University of California to, on or before the start of the 2026–27 academic year, (1) implement a policy developed by the respective systemwide chancellor or president for estimating and adjusting cost of attendance information for student parents, as specified, (2) enter student parent data for specified uses into the respective systemwide data management information system, as revised to accommodate this data by the systemwide chancellor or president pursuant to the bill, and (3) update its campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, as specified. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Senate Bill 271: Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs. (2025-2026)

This bill would expand the definition of basic needs services and resources to include childcare services and resources, as defined, and would authorize that childcare services and support to include direct financial and service support. The bill would explicitly state that all available financial aid includes supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students, the bill would authorize a Basic Needs Center to direct that student to the student parent center or office if the student would be better served by that center or office.
This bill would require the financial aid office of each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request the financial aid office of each campus of the University of California, to provide students with dependent children information on the campus’ childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable, a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center, and information on supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children, as provided.
This bill would require child development programs or preschools established by the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request child development programs or preschools established by the University of California, to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center and the campus’ financial aid office, as specified.