California is home to roughly 400,000 student parents, a majority of whom are first-generation students of color. The cost of college and non-tuition expenses, including child care, is one of their biggest barriers to accessing and completing higher education. While student parents have greater food, housing, child care, and transportation costs than their nonparenting peers, these costs are not accounted for in their financial aid, leaving student parents with inadequate financial support. The California Alliance for Student Parent Success and the Michelson Center for Public Policy urge the passage of AB 2458, which would allow colleges to more comprehensively identify the student parents they serve as well as increase student parents’ access to financial aid and support their college completion.

Will you join us in supporting the AB 2458, the GAINS for Student Parents Act?

There are three ways you can help: 

1. Organizations can submit a letter of support by March 25, 2024. Not part of an organization? Students and children of student parents can show their individual support here and faculty can show their support here.

2. Join us in Sacramento for the hearing and provide public comment on April 2, 2024. The hearing starts at 1:30 p.m. in Room 437. Email Policy Director AJ Johnson if you are planning to attend (ajohnson@californiacompetes.org).

3. Thank Assemblymember Berman and Senator Limón for their leadership on social media by liking and sharing these posts.