Putting Policy into Practice: State Actions for the Postsecondary Success of Student Parents. Issue Brief

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9

Policymakers

Undergraduate Students; Parents; COVID-19; Pandemics; Student Needs; Access to Education; Data Use; Agency Cooperation; Institutional Cooperation; Paying for College; State Policy; State Officials; Barriers; School Community Relationship; Welfare Services; Leadership Responsibility; Student Financial Aid; Federal Aid; School Culture; Student Personnel Services

Washington; Tennessee; Oregon; Pennsylvania; North Carolina; Minnesota; Ohio

Nearly a quarter of all undergraduate students in the U.S. are parents. All parents, especially younger parents and those returning to school after years in the workforce, face a system that was not designed to accommodate their needs as caretakers. The needs of student parents have become even more acute during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced many parents to reconsider, postpone or cancel their postsecondary education plans due to unexpected childcare, schooling needs or other associated hardships. With generous support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the National Governors Association's Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), in partnership with Ascend at the Aspen Institute, convened and hosted a roundtable of experts focused on the postsecondary attainment of student parents. This brief summarizes insights from the roundtable and offers actionable strategies for Governors to explore as they commit to more intentionally serving student parents, including by: (1) using data more effectively; (2) facilitating collaboration across agencies and institutions; (3) helping overcome longstanding or unexpected financial obstacles; and (4) leading on cultural change and collaborations with community-based organizations. This brief highlights the lived experience of student parents and offers strategies that can help Governors better serve an important segment of the nation's postsecondary student population.

ERIC

2021

ED615661